Offerings at the Feathred Serpent Pyramid: Stone Disks

More than 185 stone disks in various sizes were found in many graves at the Feathered Serpent Pyramid. They are mainly of slate and vary considerably in size. The disks found in the 1980s were classified into three groups basically by size and provenience. Large slate disks (photo right), except for those found in Grave 14, were always discovered at the posterior part of the hip bones of the male individuals found with maxilla pendants in peripheral areas (See photo left, taken after the removal of certain vertebral bones and left pelvis). The disks have been identified as the rear waist ornament known in Postclassic Nahuatl as tezcacuitlapilli. They were a diagnostic element for the identification of soldiers.

The second group consisting of small disks (photo left) were found only in peripheral graves (Graves 190, 4, 5, and 6). They were less than 2.4 cm in diameter and less than 2.2 mm in thickness, and usually had one hole, suggesting that they were pendants. Excavation contexts also support their function as pendants as they were found at the thorax region of individuals who wore large back disks. The central graves (Graves 12, 13, and 14) included 25 complete or incomplete disks of medium size (the third group), and 9 complete or incomplete disks of large size. The function of disks of medium size cannot be inferred from the excavation contexts, since they were not found consistently in association with specific parts of bodies.

Large Cones

During the exploration of the central zone in the Feathered Serpent Pyramid, 46 large stone cones with stems were discovered in the fill of the Feathered Serpent Pyramid. They were found at various stratigraphic depths without any apparent patterning in position. Their excavation contexts indicate that they were thrown into the fill with other rocks to make the nucleus of the pyramid. The cone form is rather uniform, although the ratio of height to width (maximum diameter) varies from one to another. The size also varies considerably among cones. Many cones were found broken, with some having the stems cut off at their bases. The functions of these big cones are unknown, as they have not been reported nor discussed previously.