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1 December 2013 Animal Management, preparation and sacrifice: reconstructing burial 6 at the Moon Pyramid, Teotihuacan, México
Nawa Sugiyama, Raúl Valadez, Gilberto PéRez, Bernardo RodríGuez, Fabiola Torres
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Abstract

In 2004 the Moon Pyramid Project uncovered Burial 6, a massive offering cache at the core of the monument located at Teotihuacan's central ceremonial precinct. This dedicatory chamber included the remains of over fifty animals, the majority representing the most dangerous carnivores on the landscape such as eagles, felines (jaguars and pumas), canines (wolves, coyotes and hybrids between wolves and dogs) and rattlesnake. Faced with this extraordinary faunal assemblage, we investigate the dynamic ritual processes which took place during the dedication ceremony. We reconstruct not only the chaîne opératoire, the acquisition, preparation, use and deposition of each animal, but also attempt to recreate individual life histories of some of the animals deposited in this burial. This type of analysis allows us to appreciate and understand the truly complex types of interactions the Teotihuacanos had with these highly symbolic animals; including the practice of animal management and captivity within the urban center. This study demonstrates the heterogeneity of the animal population interred in the offering chamber, which involved both wild and tamed animals sacrificed alive as well as faunal products manipulated and prepared extensively prior to their deposition. Such a reconstruction of the ritual processes prompts us to question the significance of such a deposit within the context of the arising metropolis at Teotihuacan.

© Publications Scientifiques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.
Nawa Sugiyama, Raúl Valadez, Gilberto PéRez, Bernardo RodríGuez, and Fabiola Torres "Animal Management, preparation and sacrifice: reconstructing burial 6 at the Moon Pyramid, Teotihuacan, México," Anthropozoologica 48(2), 467-485, (1 December 2013). https://doi.org/10.5252/az2013n2a18
Received: 13 September 2011; Accepted: 3 January 2012; Published: 1 December 2013
JOURNAL ARTICLE
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KEYWORDS
aigles
Animal Sacrifice
canidés
canine
Dedication Ritual
Eagles
félidés
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