Animal Management, preparation and sacrifice: reconstructing burial 6 at the Moon Pyramid, Teotihuacan, México

A remarkable faunal assemblage, including over fifty animals such as eagles, jaguars, pumas, wolves, coyotes, hybrid canines, and rattlesnakes, was uncovered in Burial 6 at the Moon Pyramid of Teotihuacan during the 2004 Moon Pyramid Project. This discovery revealed a complex ritual process involving both wild and tamed animals, some sacrificed alive while others were extensively prepared before deposition. The study reconstructs the chaîne opératoire—encompassing acquisition, preparation, use, and deposition—and explores individual life histories of certain animals, shedding light on Teotihuacanos' intricate interactions with highly symbolic fauna. This analysis highlights the heterogeneity of the animal population, including captive breeding practices within the urban center, and prompts questions about the significance of such deposits in the context of Teotihuacan's rising metropolis.

Sugiyama, N., Valadez, R., PéRez, G., RodríGuez, B., & Torres, F. (2013). Animal Management, preparation and sacrifice: reconstructing burial 6 at the Moon Pyramid, Teotihuacan, México. Anthropozoologica, 48(2), 467–485. https://doi.org/10.5252/az2013n2a18