Feathered Serpent Pyramid (FSP): Archaeology of
Teotihuacan, Mexico
Grave 12 at the FSP
Stratigraphic data indicate that the burial pit for Grave 12 was used
twice and looted twice. The first use was earlier than the FSP construction.
The pit was located 3 m west-southwest of the center of the pyramid, at
the ground level. The deviation from the axis of the FSP suggests that
it did not originally belong to the FSP complex, which exhibits highly
symmetric patterns of grave location. The grave pit was square (3 m by
3 m) and dug into the subsoil (tepetate) to a depth of 0.9 m. A sort of
narrow bench or ledge was found at the southeast and southwest corners
of the pit. This also suggests that a grave was dug twice in the same place.
A post hole was found on the grave floor near the southwest corner of the
pit. These data suggest that the grave structure was different from other
graves of the FSP complex. No data were collected that bear on the question
as to whether the grave of the first burial episode was for sacrificial
victims, or for persons who died a natural death. Although stratigraphic
data are significantly disturbed by later looting activities, they suggest
that Grave 12 had been used as an multiple grave associated with a structure
that predated the FSP. The grave was later disturbed and reused for one
of the complex burials when the construction of the FSP began.
The
grave was again seriously looted ater in the Teotihuacan period, except
for a small portion around the northeastern corner. The pit was filled
again with secondary fill by the looters after they had removed nearly
all of the original contents belonging to these two ritual graves. However,
the looters left some clues pertaining to the second burial context. A
small quantity of human bone fragments and offerings was found in the lowest
levels of backfill of the pit. These may have been the remains of a multiple
burial corresponding to the FSP. Impressions of human bones dispersed on
the floor also confirm its function as a grave of a multiple burial. Several
fragments of various kinds of material, such as obsidian, shell, greenstone,
slate, and bones, suggest that this was a high status burial.
The grave was
again seriously looted in a later Teotihuacan period, except for a
small portion around the northeastern corner. The pit was filled
again with secondary fill by the looters after they had emptied
nearly all the original contents belonging to these two ritual
graves. However, the looters left certain clue to reconstruct
partially the second burial context. A small quantity of human bone
fragments and offerings was found in the lowest levels of backfill of
the pit. These may have been the remains of a multiple burial
corresponding to the FSP. Impressions of human bones dispersed on the
floor also confirm its function as a grave of a multiple burial.
Several fragments of various kinds of material, such as obsidian,
shell, greenstone, slate, and bones, suggest that this was a high
status burial.
Near
the northeast corner of the pit, bones in anatomical position belonging
to a human adult were discovered in the second fill. The type of the second
fill (rocks and mud mixed with hay) is quite different from the original
fill (gray soil) of the first burial context and is the same as the nucleus
of the FSP. Although the skeleton was incomplete, the bones indicate that
the individual was buried in a dorsal position with an east-west orientation.
The hands seem to have been tied behind the individual's back.
Because the burial was covered when the formation of the nucleus of the
FSP began, Grave 12, made reusing an earlier grave, seems to have consisted
of several individuals who were probably sacrificed for the FSP construction.
It is however an open question as to whether or not it also included individual(s)
of high social status who had died natural deaths.
Last Update: 10/12/96
Saburo Sugiyama: Arizona State University, Dept. of Anthropology, Tempe,
AZ 85287
©Copyright 1996 Project Temple of Quetzalcoatl, Instituto Nacional
de Antropología e Historia, México/ ASU
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Near
the northeast corner of the pit, bones in anatomical position belonging
to a human adult were discovered in the second fill. The type of the second
fill (rocks and mud mixed with hay) is quite different from the original
fill (gray soil) of the first burial context and is the same as the nucleus
of the FSP. Although the skeleton was incomplete, the bones indicate that
the individual was buried in a dorsal position with an east-west orientation.
The hands seem to have been tied behind the individual's back.
Because the burial was covered when the formation of the nucleus of the
FSP began, Grave 12, made reusing an earlier grave, seems to have consisted
of several individuals who were probably sacrificed for the FSP construction.
It is however an open question as to whether or not it also included individual(s)
of high social status who had died natural deaths.