[Aztlan] A Speculation on a Sacrifice at Teotihuacán

[Justin Kerr]

On Sacrifice at Teotihuacán

Some years ago when bodies were discovered in an ancient burial, at
Teotihuacán with lower jaws as necklaces, I was fascinated with the idea
that when they (the ones doing the killing, whoever they were) had run out
of real lower jaws, they created reproductions for those victims who did not
have them. The concept teased me, why lower jaws, what was the significance
of this particular body part?

And now I enter the area of pure conjecture.  I have been accused for many
years of applying the philosophies of the Popol Vuh, a Quiche tale, to the
much broader area of the Maya in general  and as well to many other areas of
Mesoamerica. Where did this late classic or post-classic story come from?
Did it spring up fully formed as Athena springing from the body of Zeus, or
were these legends built into the Mesoamerican system and if so for how
long?

Over the years, many clues emerged that the legends of the Popol Vuh went
far back in time and also that  many versions may have existed as well as
many tales that we have images of,  but no inscriptions to back them up or
explain them.  I admit to being a joiner; that is, seeing connections where
none may readily be apparent.  So I throw out to this erudite group the
possibility that there is reason for not only this particular mass sacrifice
but the jaw bones themselves.

In preparing for the 2009 Maya Meeting in Austin; soon to be upon us, I
studied the scene on a well know vase K555. This vase has been published
many times and seems to make reference to a number of stories from the Popol
Vuh. (The members of the vase workshop will be asked to toy with this one.)
One of the prominent scenes on this vase is some little creatures having
their lower jaws torn from their faces by none other than Chak. Why were
these little fellows being treated so harshly? Checking with Alan
Christenson’s translation of the Popol Vuh, we find this passage; 

The Lords of the Otherworld are speaking:

Then therefore they summoned the guardians flowers:
“What is the reason you gave our flowers to be stolen?
These our flowers these you see, 


They said therefore.
Then also were split open their mouths.

Their punishment 
(what) they guarded was stolen.

{lines starting at 3970} Popol Vuh Volume II, Allen Christenson

Back to Teotihuacán, my speculation is that these sacrificed soldiers with
the lower jaws hanging around their necks had somehow been negligent in
their duties or were part of a coup that didn’t pan out and had these
symbols of betrayal put around their necks, before they were dispatched.
Yes, I know it is a far cry from the Highland Maya to the plains of
Teotihuacán, but I wonder if we look very hard in the direction of the Olmec
if we can find some evidence there as well.  For example, the figures K3015
and K6145 in Portfolio; just two of a group of chinless beings.

Justin Kerr