Mexican scientists find 'main' trophy rack for displaying skulls at Aztec temple complex
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In this May 30, 2015 photo released by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), skulls are partially unearthed at the Templo Mayor Aztec ruin site in Mexico City. INAH archeologists believe they have found the site's main trophy rack of sacrificed human skulls, known as "tzompantli," where Aztecs displayed the severed heads of sacrificial victims on wooden poles pushed through the sides of the skull, but that this one is different. Part of the platform where the heads are displayed is made of rows of skulls mortared together roughly in a circle, but experts don't know what was at the center of the circle. (Hector Montano/INAH via AP) (The Associated Press)
Mexican archaeologists believe they have found the main trophy rack of sacrificed human skulls at Mexico City's Templo Mayor Aztec ruin site.
Racks known as "tzompantli" were where Aztecs displayed the severed heads of sacrificial victims on wooden poles pushed through the sides of the skull.
But archaeologists at Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History said Thursday that this one was different. Part of the platform where the heads were displayed was made of rows of skulls mortared together roughly in a circle. All the skulls were arranged to look inward toward the center of the circle, but experts don't know what was at the center.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The find was made between February and June under the floor of a colonial-era house in downtown Mexico City.