May 6, 2015

Post-Teotihuacan La Quemada Research

Archaeologists researching the site of La Quemada looked at bones dated from 500-900 CE. They found that the remains of those killed outside the main compound were treated in a violent fashion. Bones inside the compound were treated with respect. Those outside were abused and showed signs of cannibalism. After the collapse of Teotihuacan, the northern frontier was in upheaval. The bones of enemies were splintered, burned, and some were hung by way of holes bored into their skulls.
More information: Symbolic bones and interethnic violence in a frontier zone, northwest Mexico, ca. 500–900 C.E. Ben A. Nelson, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1422337112

Phys.org has the report here;
http://phys.org/news/2015-05-bone-analysis-reveals-violent-history.html

Mike Ruggeri’s Casas Grandes World Magazine
http://bit.ly/1ztd8vF
(click on titles or pictures to open articles)