Book contents
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Part I The Americas
- 1 Monkeys in the City of Gods
- 2 Monkeys and the Ancient Maya
- 3 Monkeys on the Islands and Coasts of Paradise
- 4 Mirroring Desert Societies with Monkeys
- 5 Alterity, Authority, and Ancestors
- 6 Representations of Primates in Petroglyphs of the Brazilian Amazonia
- 7 Nonhuman Primates in the Archaeological Record of Northeastern Brazil
- 8 Lice in Howler Monkeys and the Ancient Americas
- Part II Europe
- Part III Africa
- Part IV Asia
- Index
- References
1 - Monkeys in the City of Gods
On the Primate Remains and Representations in Teotihuacan, Central Mexico
from Part I - The Americas
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 August 2022
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Part I The Americas
- 1 Monkeys in the City of Gods
- 2 Monkeys and the Ancient Maya
- 3 Monkeys on the Islands and Coasts of Paradise
- 4 Mirroring Desert Societies with Monkeys
- 5 Alterity, Authority, and Ancestors
- 6 Representations of Primates in Petroglyphs of the Brazilian Amazonia
- 7 Nonhuman Primates in the Archaeological Record of Northeastern Brazil
- 8 Lice in Howler Monkeys and the Ancient Americas
- Part II Europe
- Part III Africa
- Part IV Asia
- Index
- References
Summary
Primates are mammals with high cultural significance in ancient societies. The objective of this research is to explore the material culture and biological remains of primates found in Teotihuacan, one of the largest pre-Hispanic urban areas of Mexico. Remains of Mesoamerican spider monkeys (Ateles cf. A. geoffroyi) were found in the Pyramid of the Moon, Xalla, and the Plaza of the Columns. Portable material culture that resembles primates was recovered elsewhere within Teotihuacan, but mostly in Tetitla and La Ventilla. Murals with representations of monkeys were found at these last two Teotihuacan sites. Possibly, primates reached Teotihuacan because of relationships with peoples from more distant lands such as the Mayan region as well as the Oaxacan province ruled by Monte Albán. The rise of the presence of primates in Teotihuacan occurred during the Classic period (~200–550 CE); however, it is relatively scarce considering the large size of the city and the long period of time in which Teotihuacan had been researched. Nevertheless, the existence of monkeys in Teotihuacan, either as exotic animals or as portable objects, does also seem to indicate that they were disseminated within different parts of the city. Thus, living primates and their representations circulated with their symbolic value in Teotihuacan, particularly among members of the ruling elite, and likely among members of other neighboring Mesoamerican societies.
Archaeoprimatology, Classic period, Maya, Oaxaca, Osteoarchaeology, Pottery, Primatology, Puebla.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- World ArchaeoprimatologyInterconnections of Humans and Nonhuman Primates in the Past, pp. 13 - 47Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022
References
- 1
- Cited by