The Canary Museum will host next Thursday, November 24, the conference Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism among the Mexicas, given by the historian and anthropologist Aioze Rafael Trujil
lo Mederos.Human sacrifice and cannibalism have been practiced for decades in all cultural areas of Mesoamerica. Ethnographic texts and iconography have always been used as more demonstrative elements of their existence, but new research on human remains and the most recent taphonomic studies have not only corroborated this practice, but have also provided new data on how these rituals were carried out, how the corpses were manipulated and what their final destination was. The human
remains found in the 159 offering of the Temple Major and in the dumpsters of Tletelcomila, both in Mexico City, offer a unique opportunity to get closer to this fascinating world. From the taphonomic and archeometric analysis of the bones it is possible to reconstruct the sacrificial practices to which the ritual victims were subjected. Aioze Rafae
l Trujillo Mederos holds a degree in History from the University of La Laguna (Tenerife) and a master's degree in Physical and Forensic Anthropology from the University of Granada. His research lines focus on the study of the human remains of the first farmers, shepherds and artisans of the southern peninsular, as well as the Aboriginal populations of the Canary Islands, where his work focuses essentially on the bioanthropological characterization of the Aboriginal people of the island of El Hierro.
Among his scientific interests, in addition to those related to physical anthropology and archaeology, is the analysis of the processes of formation of burial deposits, mainly responsible for the taphonomic study and recognition of funeral gestures, as well as the dissemination and socialization of knowledge of archaeological heritage. In this sense, he has focused much of his research on topics such as cannibalism and human sacrifice, participating in scientific projects and works in Spain, Peru, Mexico and Panama.
Author of different publications in national and international congresses and journals, as well as scientific dissemination, he has participated or directed several research projects in the provinces of Malaga, Almería and Córdoba, among which stands out the urgent archaeological excavation in the Necropolis of La Beleña (Cabra, Córdoba).