Rethinking Human Sacrifice at Teotihuacan

The city of Teotihuacan is located in central Mexico and is well known for its monumental lay-out and large pyramids. As is the case with most Mesoamerican cultures, the subject of human sacrifice has played a large role in the research done into the site. This thesis first provides the reader with information about the site of Teotihuacan and the discussion about human sacrifice in the wider Mesoamerican region. The issues with colonial sources and definition will be discussed. What follows is a critical assessment of the evidence that has been put forth to support the existence of human sacrifice at Teotihuacan. This evidence is divided in two types: visual culture and human remains. The visual culture section focuses on two murals and the iconography of hearts. The human remains section focuses on the burial complexes of the Feathered Serpent Pyramid, Moon Pyramid and Sun Pyramid. The conclusion includes both a summary of the findings and a warning for possible biases in...Show moreThe city of Teotihuacan is located in central Mexico and is well known for its monumental lay-out and large pyramids. As is the case with most Mesoamerican cultures, the subject of human sacrifice has played a large role in the research done into the site. This thesis first provides the reader with information about the site of Teotihuacan and the discussion about human sacrifice in the wider Mesoamerican region. The issues with colonial sources and definition will be discussed. What follows is a critical assessment of the evidence that has been put forth to support the existence of human sacrifice at Teotihuacan. This evidence is divided in two types: visual culture and human remains. The visual culture section focuses on two murals and the iconography of hearts. The human remains section focuses on the burial complexes of the Feathered Serpent Pyramid, Moon Pyramid and Sun Pyramid. The conclusion includes both a summary of the findings and a warning for possible biases in Mesoamerican archaeology.Show less

Leiden University Student Repository

Documents

In Collections

Rethinking Human Sacrifice at Teotihuacan