Archaeology of Teotihuacan, Mexico
Shell
artifacts comprise one of the main offerings in the burial complex of the
Feathered Serpent Pyramid. They were found in almost all graves there (Photo
shows excavation context in the Grave 14).
They are composed of beads, pendants, teeth imitations used for maxilla
pendants, earplugs, and unworked shell. The majority of them were found
in association with individuals as ornaments. Apart from those found in
the 1980s on the north, south, and east sides and inside the pyramid, Marquina
(1922:158-161) reported discoveries of shell offerings at the top of the
Feathered Serpent Pyramid. Pérez (1939) and Rubín de la Borbolla
(1947) also state that spiral and conch shells were discovered in front
of the pyramid stairway.The data on shell offerings used here were recorded and analyzed by Clara Paz and Sugiyama, and a detailed analysis will be published soon (Sugiyama and Paz 1995).
