Mexican archaeologists reveal studies made on sacrificial stone found at Templo Mayor
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
MEXICO CITY.- Some months ago, a stone where human sacrifices were performed was found as part of the archaeological salvage work that has been made by the Program of Urban Archaeology (PAU) from the Great Temple Museum. Today, thanks to numerous studies, we know that the location where the monolith was discovered was not the place where it had been used 500 years ago. It was removed from its original place back in the pre Hispanic era.
According to specialists, this kind of stone was used, in pre Hispanic times, to place a person lying on his back (with an eastern or western direction). Once they were laid down they were sacrificed; their thoracic cage was opened and their heart was pulled out.
Archaeologists Estibaliz Aguayo and Berenice Jimenez, from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said that according to the coded iconography, sacrifices were always made in open spaces, which doesn’t coincide with the site where the otechcatl (nahuatl) stone was discovered, which was next to a wall.
The PAU archaeologists also mentioned that the National Autonomous University of Mexico is conducting studies on the sacrificial stone to determine if there is evidence of human blood; in the same manner, the experts at INAH continue their investigation to determine the original structure to which the stone was associated, in which ceremonies it was used and in honor of what pre Hispanic deities.
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