Mexican archaeologists during excavations in the Aztec city of Tlatelolco discovered 36 burials, six of which were made in locally made spherical vessels. The remains of one small child with an obsidian knife stuck into the skull were under a kind of plate. Also, during the excavation of a residential area and a craft workshop, scientists have found 112 types of ceramics and more than 200 female figurines from the post-classical and colonial periods. The research results are reported in a press release from the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico.
On the territory of modern Mexico City in 1337, the Aztecs founded the city of Tlatelolco and proclaimed their independence from Tenochtitlan. The market was of great importance in the life of the city, which, according to various estimates, was visited daily by 30 to 60 thousand buyers and sellers. Here one could buy food, jewelry made of precious metals, animal bones, shells of molluscs, as well as building stone or bricks. In 1521, Tlatelolco was conquered by the Spaniards and destroyed. However, in subsequent years, some of the surviving Aztecs returned to the city.
Excavations on the territory of this archaeological site began in the 20th century. One of the largest finds made during this time occurred at the end of 2008. Then archaeologists found a collective burial of 49 people dating back to the time of the Spanish conquest. The peculiarity of this grave lies in the fact that the bodies lay on their backs with their arms crossed on their chests. Instead of coffins, their remains lay in large cactus leaves. Almost all of the victims were tall young men and identified as warriors. In addition to them, the grave contained the remains of two children, a teenager and an elderly man who wore a ring, which probably reflected his high social status.
Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico, led by Jose Lopez, during excavations of the Aztec city-state of Tlatelolco discovered the remains of a residential area and a craft workshop, which confirm that a few years after the Spanish conquest, the surviving indigenous groups returned to their ancient settlement. They continued to conduct religious ceremonies and rituals, which was a kind of cultural resistance.
Archaeological site of the city-state of Tlatelolco
Scientists noted that the discovered finds belong to the post-classical (1200-1521 AD) and early colonial (1521-1650 AD) periods. In the southern part of the residential area, archaeologists discovered a ritual sector, the architecture of which led to the conclusion that the structures were repopulated between 1525 and 1547. Among the finds were spherical ceramic vessels, as well as human remains from the colonial era.
Archaeologists have found two anthropomorphic sculptures 40 and 35 centimeters high, next to which there were traces of offerings. The figures depict two seated characters. One was made of basalt and has some blue pigment around the hair and some black and blue on the cheeks. The second was carved from volcanic stone with traces of red and black pigments around the eyes. Scientists noted that it is difficult to interpret these sculptures at the present time and, perhaps, they acquired significance within the framework of religious and cultural resistance. Archaeologists have summed up that a total of 112 types of ceramics and more than 200 female figurines were found on the excavated site.
During the excavation of a craft workshop, large quantities of gray, gold and green obsidian were found. In addition, archaeologists have found a total of 36 graves of children and adults throughout the site. It is noteworthy that the remains of six people were in spherical vessels of local production, which were used as burial urns: two from the pre-Hispanic and four from the colonial periods. Separately, scientists noted the burial of a small child, which was covered with a kind of plate. An obsidian knife was stuck in his skull, and a piece of flint was found in his cervical region.
From the editor
In the original version of the note, it was stated that archaeologists found the burial of the infant, although he was a small child. We apologize to our readers.
