Archaeology of Teotihuacan, Mexico  

"Burial 2": Found within the Pyramid of the Moon

In the interior of the pyramid, within the fill of the fourth stage of construction, an offering-burial complex was discovered containing the remains of one individual, probably a sacrificial victim. The burial was located in line with the north-south axis of the Avenue of the Dead and contained rich offerings. Among the offerings were objects of obsidian, greenstone, pyrite and shell. The remains of various animals - two pumas, several eagles, an owl, a falcon, a wolf and three serpents - were also found. Many of the objects were carefully and symbolically arranged, as shown in the photograph.

The evidence indicates that the animals were probably alive when they were deposited in Burial 2. One of the indications of this is that the two pumas and the wolf were found surrounded by what appeared to be the imprint of a cage (the parallel marks of the slats of the cage can be seen in the photo to the left). Apparently it was necessary to place them in the cage because they were alive.