Beyond Contortionists
Patricia Ochoa Castillo
University Press of Florida eBooks May 3, 2022 DOI: 10.5744/florida/9780813069296.003.0006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Archaeological burial analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Over 500 burials from the Early Formative site of Tlatilco, Central Mexico, including Burial 154 (an adult male) |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | The authors argue that Burial 154 at Tlatilco contained an adult male buried with a contortionist vessel, a metate possibly used to prepare hallucinogenic substances, and items indicating self-sacrifice and divination, which they interpret as evidence of shamanic practice. They contend that these grave goods and the wider burial record reflect ritual activities and regional interaction that shaped Tlatilco's material culture across Central Mexico and Mesoamerica. |
Abstract
In the communities of Central Mexico during the Early Formative period (1400–800 BCE), the site of Tlatilco stands out for the abundance of materials recovered during the four major excavations. The more than 500 burials and their accompanying grave goods offer a wide possibility of studies. The burial records allow for insight into individual and collective ritual activities, in which, particularly the shamanic practices, played an important role. Without a doubt, the most relevant is Burial 154 from Season IV, containing an adult male buried with paraphernalia associated with shamanic activities. Among his grave goods was an extraordinary anthropomorphic vessel depicting a contortionist. Other grave goods support the argument that the interred was practicing rituals associated with shamanism, including a metate that could have been used to prepare hallucinogenic substances for altering one’s state of mind. Additionally, some items attest to self-sacrifice and objects for divination. These indicators allow us to visualize different activities carried out by the Tlatilcans and reflect a sense of regional interaction within Central Mexico and other regions of Mesoamerica. These interactions undoubtedly contributed to shaping Tlatilco’s material culture and analyzing the ritual activities they practiced offers a broader vision on micro and macro-regional levels.