[Aztlan] Zapotec use of human femurs

[michael ruggeri]

Listeros,

Archaeologists believed that Zapotec rulers carried around human  
femurs as power symbols. A carved lintel at Lambityeco shows this. A  
Field Museum team has confirmed this. They have found femurs were  
removed from graves and that this practice was widespread among heads  
of households and rulers. A missing femur dated to 500 CE was found at  
a Mitla fortress along with other skeletons. The house was not a  
ruler's residence. More residences in the area will be excavated by  
the team.

EurekAlert has the story here;
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-07/fm-fmc070809.php

For images and captions, please open this link.
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/museum_info/photos/feinman_mexico.zip

Mike Ruggeri

Mike Ruggeri's Zapotec World
http://tinyurl.com/37huyl

Mike Ruggeri's Zapotec Art Portfolio
http://tinyurl.com/lu36ac