Dog burials are uncovered before at archeological digs, however this can be a primary such finding not related to a building or an individual's burial, according to a report revealed in Spanish last week by Mexico's National Institute of anthropology and History (INAH).
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Dogs were vital symbolically in Aztec mythology. They were believed to serve their masters even when death, guiding the soul of the deceased through the various risky layers of the underworld to succeed in Mictlan, the place of the dead. Also, a god referred to as Xolotl—sometimes pictured with the pinnacle of a dog—had robust ties to the underworld.
Whether the Aztecs associated the buried dogs with such symbolism remains unknown. The researchers hope that the burial offers deeper insights into however dogs were regarded by the residents of the chief town of the Aztecs.
Pet burial ground
Working in an area measuring 6.5 sq. feet (two sq. meters), the archaeologists discovered the canine remains between four.2 feet (1.3 meters) and five.5 feet (1.7 meters) below this street level.
The skeletons were largely complete and well preserved, however their burial follows no explicit pattern that the archaeologists may recognize.
Whether the Aztecs are related to the buried dogs with mythological symbolism remains unknown.
The dogs were all of medium height, represent numerous ages at death, and maintained most of their teeth. They were most likely common dogs, not native Mexican breeds like the techichi (known for his or her short stature) or the xoloitzcuintli (which loses its bicuspid teeth in adulthood).
Nearby excavation sites yielded a mode of pottery referred to as Aztec III. These orange-clay vessels, decorated in black geometric styles.
References : National Geographic
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