Animals are omnipresent in the life of the Mexica people, particularly in the art, economy, and religion. In the offerings discovered in the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan, an unusual quantity and diversity of faunal remains have been recovered from all corners of the empire and beyond. This work includes the analyzes carried out after more than four decades of archaeological excavations of the Templo Mayor Project of the National Institute of Anthropology and History. The contributions gathered here present a collective, intergenerational and multidisciplinary vision that addresses biological, ecological, taphonomic and symbolic aspects of the animals offered, more than half a thousand species identified to date. Throughout thirty-five chapters, the obtaining and transportation of these animals, their captivity and breeding in the imperial capital, as well as their role in the ceremonies of the sacred enclosure, are examined, thereby expanding our understanding of the world of the ancient Mexicans.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.