Aztec Human Skull Trophy Rack Unearthed in Mexico Catherine Griffin - Science World Report
go to original August 22, 2015

Mexico: Archaeologists unearth sacrificial skull trophy rack at Templo Mayor Aztec complex (IBTimes)

It sounds like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. Archaeologists have found the main trophy rack of sacrificed human skulls in the heart of Mexico City, shedding light on the ancient Aztec empire.

The rack of skulls was found on the western side of what was once the Templo Mayor complex in Tenochtitlan, in modern Mexico City. The partially unearthed skull rack was likely built between 1485 and 1502 and may have been about 112 feet long and 40 feet wide.

Illustration showing an Aztec skull rack (Códice Ramírez/Wikimedia)

The skull rack is known as tzompantli in the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs. This rack was likely used to display the remains of sacrificed warriors from rival kingdoms. Most likely, the victims were killed by priest in nearby temples.

"The tzompantli had a very specific symbolism," said Raul Barrera, lead archaeologist of Mexico's Institute of Anthropology and History, in an interview with NYC Today. "With more study, we expect to learn that many of these skulls belonged to (Aztec) enemies, who were captured, sacrificed and decapitated in order to be displayed there."

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