RITUAL HUMAN SACRIFICE AMONG THE TARASCANS

RITUAL HUMAN SACRIFICE AMONG THE TARASCANS Cinthia M. Campos¹, José Luis Punzo- Diaz² and Carlos Karam Tapia² ¹California State University Los Angeles, ²Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia- Michoacán Introduction Results Methods This study reports a detailed analysis of anthropogenic marks observed on a collection of human remains excavated in 1992 at Tzintzuntzan, the Postclassic (1300-1522 A.D.) Tarascan ceremonial capital. The osteological deposit was discovered on the northwestern corner of the Great Platform below yácata 5. It was first uncovered by Alfonso Caso and Rubín de la Borbolla in 1937-1942 and later investigated by Román Piña Chán between the middle 1940´s to late 1970´s, by Efrain Cardenas in 1992, and most recently in 2011 by Proyecto Especial de Michoacán (PEM). The 2011 excavations provided the best documentation of the deposit, conditions of osteological remains and stratigraphy. In 1992, 194 skull fragments were recovered, cleaned and stored. PEM, a conservation and reconstruction project yielded a large amount of highly fragmented human bone. Preliminary analysis of the skull fragments identified both males and females, many of which display a series of post-mortem cut marks. The 194 skull fragments analyzed were excavated and cleaned in 1992. All are highly fragmented (<25% complete) and no complete skull was recovered. The skull fragments are composed of 30 frontals, 104 parietals, 20 temporals and 40 occipitals. An MNI of 40 is estimated based on the number of nearly complete occipitals. Drawing on suture closure and obliteration, Karam determined that the individuals were between 20-40 years at death. The deposit at Tzintzuntzan has been noted in ethnohistoric sources since the 16th century (Alcalá 2008 [1541];Beaumont 1932) and referred to as the “ossuary” by archaeologists throughout the 19th century (Castro-Leal 1986, González-Martínez 2013). This analysis seeks to determine whether the individuals recovered at Tzintzuntzan were victims of ritual violence. Due to the condition and quantity of osteological remains recovered in 2011, the bone was weighed (1151.36 lbs.) The immense weight in this small portion of the deposit hints at the large mass of material still yet to be uncovered and analyzed. Objectives • • • Analyze a sample of human remains recovered from the Great Platform at Tzintzuntzan from the 1992 excavations. Determine whether the remains show evidence of peri- and/or postmortem body treatment. Determine how closely is this assemblage reflective of ethnohistoric data? Tzintzuntzan Discussion 6 1 Archaeological and taphonomic evidence demonstrates large-scale human violence and fire exposure. The pattern of cut marks observed on 19 skull fragments often start at the major muscle attachments in the frontal part of the skull, cutting through the temporalis, sternocleidomastoid and occipitalis muscles. This suggests the practice of defleshing as these cuts would allow for maintenance of the skin. Interestingly, seven obsidian blades were recovered, the dimensions of which are similar to the cut marks identified; suggesting these were the tools used. 3 2 5 The skull fragments were analyzed for evidence of trauma. Sharp force trauma was identified on 19 fragments. The fragments (three frontals, eight right parietals, six left parietals and two occipitals) and respective cut marks were analyzed and photographed using a Celestron 44302 Handheld Digital Microscope 2MP. Cutmarks were measured to assess length (see table 1). 7 4 8 Figure 6. A compilation of cut marks from the 19 skull fragments. This image shows a pattern among the distribution and concentration of the cut marks. Sexually dimorphic cranial features were observable on five of the skull fragments (two females and three males); however, Karam estimated that 90-95% were male based on observations in size and thickness (personal communication, 2017). The frontals were sexed using size, brow ridge and the supraorbital margin. The smoothness of the nuchal crest and lack of an inion hook on TZ-12 suggested is female. 1 2 3 4 Table 1. Characteristics of the skull fragments and number of cut marks identified on each unit. Number of Average Length of Cut Sex Unit Est. Age Cut Sample Mark at Death Marks Figure 7. Examples of cut marks identified on skull fragments recovered in 1992. TZ-1 TZ-2 TZ-3 TZ-4 TZ-5 TZ-6 TZ-7 Figure 1. Tzintzuntzan, characterized by five key-hole shaped pyramids, was the most important political and ceremonial site for the Tarascans during the Postclassic. The osteological deposit is located at the NW corner of the Great Platform. TZ-8 TZ-9 TZ-10 TZ-11 TZ-12 TZ-13 TZ-14 TZ-15 TZ-16 TZ-17 TZ-18 Figure 2. Figure 2 The 2011 project excavated a 3 m by 2 m unit and recovered a large amount of human remains. The profiles show the degree of fragmentation and density of bone, some of which display evidence of fire exposure. (Photo Courtesy: A.F. Humberto Quiroz) TZ-19 Right Parietal Frontal Frontal Frontal Left Parietal Right Parietal Right Parietal Right Parietal Left Temporal Occipital Right Parietal Occipital Left Parietal Left Parietal Right Parietal Left Parietal Left Parietal Right Parietal Right Parietal 10 8 4 4 2.4 cm 1-2 cm 1 cm 1.5 cm-4 cm UNID F M M 20-30 20-30 20-30 20-30 3 1 cm UNID 20-30 2 1.2 cm UNID 20-30 3 1.5 cm UNID 20-30 5 0.3- 4 cm UNID 20-30 1 3 0.5-1 cm 0.05-1 cm UNID UNID 20-30 30-40 4 2 1.5-2 cm 1 cm UNID F 20-30 20-30 3 0.05 cm UNID 20-30 9 2 cm UNID 20-30 2 2 cm UNID 30-40 2 1.8 cm UNID 20-30 1 0.05 cm UNID 20-30 2 0.05 cm UNID 20-30 Figure 4. Obsidian prismatic blades recovered among the commingled remains recovered in 2011, some of which display evidence of fire exposure. Ethnohistoric Evidence of Human Sacrifice at Tzintzuntzan A B The 2011 excavation profiles show a mass grave. Partial burning of the lot in antiquity was which is identified via grey streaks of ash between layers of bone. Stratigraphy suggests this was not a single deposition and that once deposited, after the individuals were deposited, the lot was covered with soil and set on fire. The charred bone and fire affected obsidian prismatic blade found among the commingled remains further support these statements. Archaeological and osteological evidence supports ethnohistoric records describing the practice of human sacrifice. Ethnohistoric sources (Alcalá 2008 [1541]) describe the Tarascan army taking 8,000 to 16,000 war captives to be sacrificed at the ceremonial precincts, Patzcuaro and Tzintzuntzan (Alcalá 2008:127). Informants described the Feast of Sicuindiro and Cuingo in which, after immolation, sacrificial priests flayed the individual and proceeded to perform ceremonial dances wearing the skin (Alcalá 2008 [1541]:12). In sum, ethnohistoric descriptions and images of blood running down the pyramids confirm that human sacrifice took place at Tzintzuntzan. Interestingly, informants also described the treatment of post-sacrificial cadavers. Bodies were taken to a place called herbazales, left to be eaten by predatory birds. The remains were then covered with dry grasses and wood and set on fire (Alcalá 2008:109-116, 152). The fact that the 19 skull fragments did not present evidence of being fire affected suggests they were kept in a separate location or used for other purposes. We propose that the partially excavated deposit at the foot of the Great Platform at Tzintzuntzan is, in fact, the place referred to as the herbazales in the Relación de Michoacán (Alcalá 2008 [1541]). References Cited C 6 2.5 cm M 20-30 A: The central ceremonial precinct of Tzintzuntzan as depicted in Fray Pablo Beaumont Mapa Tercero -Crónica de Michoacán, t. II (1932: 266) B: A scene from the Relación de Michoacán- “and there for an entire day, Curicaueri’s priests sacrificed them (the captives), the blood reached the floor of the cu creating a flow of blood that ran through the patio” (Alcalá 2008 [1541]: 86) C: The justice ceremony of Equata Cónsquaro, illustrated in the Relación de Michoacán- where they sacrificed prisoners, evil-doers and captives. (Alcalá 2008 [1541]: 202 ). Acknowledgements We would like to extend our gratitude to the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia – Michoacán for granting permission to analyze the materials without which this project would not be possible. Special thanks to Humberto Quiroz, who provided valuable insight and images from the excavation. Thank you to Helen P. Pollard and Amy Hirshman for your generous advice and constructive feedback. Finally, thank you James E. Brady for your guidance and mentorship.