Stable Isotopes and Zooarchaeology at Teotihuacan, Mexico Reveal Earliest Evidence of Wild Carnivore Management in Mesoamerica

Research at Teotihuacan, Mexico, provides the earliest evidence of wild carnivore management for ritualistic purposes in Mesoamerica, predating historical accounts by nearly 1000 years. Stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) of bones and teeth from nearly 200 carnivorous animals, including eagles and felids, reveals that some were fed a maize-based diet, indicative of captivity. Skeletal pathologies further support this finding, showing signs of infectious disease and injuries consistent with captive conditions. This study challenges previous assumptions about the timing and extent of carnivore management in the region, offering new insights into the social and ritualistic significance of these animals during the construction of the Moon and Sun Pyramids (A.D. 1-550).

Sugiyama, N., Somerville, A. D., & Schoeninger, M. J. (2015). Stable Isotopes and Zooarchaeology at Teotihuacan, Mexico Reveal Earliest Evidence of Wild Carnivore Management in Mesoamerica. Plos One, 10(9), e0135635. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135635