Animal Management at the Ancient Metropolis of Teotihuacan, Mexico: Stable Isotope Analysis of Leporid (Cottontail and Jackrabbit) Bone Mineral

Stable isotope analysis reveals that cottontails and jackrabbits at Teotihuacan were provisioned with human-cultivated foods, such as maize, suggesting intentional management or breeding during the city's peak (AD 1-550). The study analyzed bone mineral isotopes from 134 ancient leporid specimens, comparing them to modern samples. High δ13Capatite values in Oztoyahualco, a residential complex with rabbit sculptures and butchering traces, indicate human provisioning, while stable δ18Oapatite values suggest consistent environmental conditions. This provides evidence for mammalian animal husbandry in ancient Mesoamerica.

Somerville, A. D., Sugiyama, N., Manzanilla, L. R., & Schoeninger, M. J. (2016). Animal Management at the Ancient Metropolis of Teotihuacan, Mexico: Stable Isotope Analysis of Leporid (Cottontail and Jackrabbit) Bone Mineral. Plos One, 11(8), e0159982. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159982