Aztec Cannibalism

Wire services have released this piece on a project near Calpulalpan, Mexico that has unearthed direct evidence that Aztecs sacrificed and ate a party of Spanish conquistadors, their allies and camp followers during the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Ritual sacrifice and cannibalism by the Aztecs has been pretty well attested, though lately some have tried to put this off as a myth of Spanish propaganda. This is another nail in the coffin of that position.

One thing that surprised me was this sentence:

Experts say the discovery proves some Aztecs did resist the conquistadors
led by explorer Hernan Cortes, even though history books say most welcomed
the white-skinned horsemen in the belief they were returning Aztec gods.

Well initially the Aztec did welcome the Spanish, though when they figured out their true aims they resisted them furiously. The small Spanish army joined by tens of thousands of Indian warriors revolting against their Aztec oppressors, won the war. I attribute this confusion to the wire service writer and not the archaeologists.

The description and interpretations of the remains makes chilling reading.