Posted on 01/27/2005 10:37:51 PM PST by quidnunc
New finds from an archaeological site near Mexico City support certain written and pictorial evidence concerning Aztec human sacrifice that historians previously doubted because the accounts seemed too exaggerated to be true.
The discovery adds to the growing collection of evidence supporting human sacrifice and cannibalism among the founders of the Mexican empire. It also suggests that researchers might now be able to verify some 16th century Spanish accounts on the subject.
The Spanish and the Aztecs documented at least four observations of cannibalism in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés (1485-1547), whose men conquered the Aztecs in 1519, wrote in a letter that his soldiers had captured an Aztec man who had roasted a baby at breakfast time.
While it probably would be impossible to validate that specific account, the Aztec site at Ecatepec, north of Mexico City, has just yielded the remains of eight children whom the Aztecs likely sacrificed.
Archaeologist Nadia Velez Saldana discovered the remains. She told the Associated Press, "The sacrifice involved burning or partially burning victims. We found a burial pit with the skeletal remains of four children who were partially burned, and the remains of four other children that were completely carbonized."
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at dsc.discovery.com ...
The Golden Bough ***Oh yech! That's one book I'm never going to read.**
Actually it is a very interesting book, especially the chapter on becoming a priest of Attis!
***Ever heard about The Donner Party that was lost in the High Sierras of California in 1846? ***
Or Albert Packer in Colorado.
You raise a good point. I wonder if the academic libs ever ask how many lives were saved and actually enhanced by the introduction of Christianity.
records indicate at least one tribe in North Carolina practiced cannibalism
Wasn't the earlier horse pliohippus? Didn't resemble the the beast we know today.
There was a tribe of cannibals living on the Texas coast, Galveston Island, when the first settlers arrived. The correct spelling of their name escapes me now (not enough coffee) but it is pronounced Ka-ronk-a-was.
I suppose it's a matter of what motivations you subscribe to the "sacrifice". North American Indians had a long history of burning captured enemies alive in a ritual fashion, and there are also a number of historical references to ritual cannibalism among northern tribes; the Abenaki come specifically to mind, as documented by the early French Jesuits who ministered to the Indians in colonial Canada in the 1600s.
There was a book out years ago by a guy who went to Africa in the 1960's -70's to learn about the "old" ways of the different tribes there. He ended up writing about how they dumped DDT into the creeks to get fish, how they wanted him to use his M-16 to kill a whole herd of elephants and how they slaughted herds of antelope with wire fencing just to get the skins for sale to safari hunters. Guy came home quite dejected, changed his outlook in life.
Lies Lies Lies. The native people were a peaceful nature loving people prior to the Arival of the Europeans. Todays history teachers say so. "sarcasm"
THE HEADHUNTERS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND.
If you get time, read about North American's only Headhunters, the Kwakiutl Indians who lived on Vancouver Island in the Pacific Northwest.
Don't be silly, the Aztecs had access to much greater spices and peppers for seasoning.
W.C. FIELDS MUST HAVE BEEN AN AZTEC
I remember when he was asked how he liked children, and he replied, "Roasted".
Here Plains Indians showed true generosity for white strangers in their midst. The Ute Tribe gave shelter, cared for and fed a group of gold miners until they insisted on leaving against strong warnings:
The party arrived in January 1874 into Chief Ouray's Ute camp in northwestern Colorado, near Montrose, where they were cared for and urged to remain until spring. At that time of year, the mountain passes were treacherous, the Ute said, and snow could bury men. It would not be wise to proceed.
Later the men were found slaughtered and devoured by Mr. Packer. There is a drawing of the crime scene on the link above
Who can honestly say that they haven't cook, skinned, and ate humans? I know I have!
Supposedly, at least according to my grandmother, some of her Delaware Indian relatives had no white ancestry but did have relatively light complexion and blue or grey eyes. There are certainly large differences in the physical appearance of North American tribes, the Aztecas of Mexico, and natives of the Amazon River basin.
You know, the idea of jerked long-pig sounds good to me. I'm not sure if all spice is grown in that region, but if it was, that might be pretty tastey. The thing is, long-pig is so hard to come by in the states, that I wouldn't want to waste it on something experimental. For me, slow smoked over an aromatic wood, pecan is my favorite, and then basted with a light vinegar sauce and served on a roll. Them's Good Eats!
”Unleash the Hogs of Peace.”
P.J. O'Rourke Parliament of Whores
On a loosely related topic, I read Michael Crichton's new book a few weeks ago and I have to admit enjoying picturing Martin Sheen in the role of the delusional actor / TV show president. You'll need to read the book to see the connection with this post, but suffice it to say his last role was a tasty one.
"Not really blockbuster news.
It has been known for a long time they had some gruesome practices.
I get the groups mixed up, but one of the Me"
Coming to a neighborhood near you.....
"Not really blockbuster news.
It has been known for a long time they had some gruesome practices.
I get the groups mixed up, but one of the Me"
Coming to a neighborhood near you.....
Perhaps a nice tidy $250,000 would do it for me (tax free of course!).
That idea seems to be gaining popularity.
But, mainly they still came from the north 22-35,000 years ago. The LGM (Last Glacial Maxium) 18,000 years ago pretty much stopped the flow from the north and after it ended, the people in the south migrated back north. It looks like there were probably five different ethnic groups with at least one of those the, Jomon - Ainu, that was carrying the 'European' X gene, Kennewick Man, etc. Source: Out Of Eden, Dr Stephen Oppenheimer.
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