A series of pre-Hispanic burials in the central altar of the archaeological zone of Teocaltitán, in the state of Jalisco, western Mexico, were discovered during the restoration works of the site, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reported Thursday. Mexico.
In a statement, the researcher at the INAH Jalisco Center and director of the Teocaltitán Archaeological Project, Marisol Montejano, pointed out that the recovery work on the site, which in the Nahuatl language means "place of the house of the gods"They date back to 2007.
He explained that in the current field season, with the assistance of workers, "Four burials have been recorded in the area of the central altar, which is located in the sunken patio that is in front of the main pyramid.".
He indicated that one of the burials corresponds to an adult individual, which was accompanied by a vessel, which was disposed towards the Late Classic or Epiclassic period (600-900 AD), in the southwest corner of the central altar, an action that involved dismantling at the time the edge of the building.
In addition, the excavation helped determine that "the central altar is the product of at least three constructive moments"explained the specialist.
Also, near the central altar, on its eastern flank and in front of the pyramid, the burial of an infant was located that kept anatomical position.
"It was found complete under a stone slab; post mortem, the little boy was lying on his back and with his legs bent inside a pit"he detailed.
The archaeologist explained that the placement of the infant’s bone remains at a shallow depth from the surface of the patio," it is indicative that this event took place in the last stage of occupation of the site"during the Early Postclassic (900-1100 AD).
Montejano added that another pair of burials was located, one of them deteriorated due to the shallow depth in which it was found, and the other is in the process of being excavated. However, in some profiles, such as the west face of the Ball Game court, other burials are beginning to be observed.
He recalled that since 2011 eight human burials associated with the central altar have been found, dating from the different periods of occupation of the site.
The specialist pointed out in the note that the discovery of burials in this ancient ceremonial center "is a constant, and shows the various types of funerary practices carried out at different times in the place".
The Teocaltitán archaeological zone is located on the top of the hill of the same name, in the community of Teocaltitán de Guadalupe, municipality of Jalostotitlán, state of Jalisco.
This promontory was modified to settle at least 25 structures, said construction activity was carried out mainly in the Classic and Epiclassic periods; the settlement was abandoned, but some spaces were recovered in the Early Postclassic.