[Aztlan] 24 SACRIFICED TOLTEC CHILDREN UNCOVERED

[michael ruggeri]

Mexico finds bones suggesting Toltec child sacrifice

By Monica Medel

TULA, Mexico (Reuters) - The grisly find of the buried bones of 24  
pre-Hispanic Mexican children may be the first evidence that the  
ancient Toltec civilisation sacrificed children, an archaeologist  
studying the remains said on Monday.

The bones, dating from 950 AD to 1150 AD and dug up at the Toltecs'  
former capital Tula, north of present day Mexico City, indicated the  
children had been decapitated in a group.

The way the children, aged between 5 and 15, were placed in the  
grave, and the fact they were buried with a figurine of Tlaloc, the  
God of rain, also pointed to a group sacrifice, archaeologist Luis  
Gamboa said.

"To try and explain why there are 24 bodies grouped in the same  
place, well, the only way is to think that there was a human  
sacrifice," he said.

"You can see evidence of incisions which make us think they possibly  
used sharp-edged instruments to decapitate them."

The Toltecs were a war-like pre-Aztec civilisation known for  
sacrificing adult humans -- mainly prisoners of war -- to the Gods.

Based in the ancient city of Tula, about 50 miles (80 km) north of  
Mexico City, they flourished until the late 12th century, influencing  
much of Mexico from the southwestern United States down to the Gulf  
of Mexico and Central America.

Tula is best known today for its fearsome 15-foot-high (4.5 metre)  
stone warrior figures.

The children's bones were discovered by accident at the end of March  
by construction workers deepening the foundations of an office  
building in Tula, outside the archaeological zone.

"In terms of children, it can be considered one of the first  
discoveries (in Toltec culture)," Gamboa said, adding that the  
children were likely brought in from other parts of Mexico.

(c) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.


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