Mass Slaughter of Children Was Desperate Attempt to Combat Drought by Mexica

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Mass Slaughter of Children Was Desperate Attempt to Combat Drought by Mexica

Mass Slaughter of Children Was Desperate Attempt to Combat Drought by Mexica

In a deeply moving revelation about pre-Hispanic life and beliefs, a recent examination of archaeological data links a mass offering of children to the Mexica rain god Tlaloc to a devastating drought in 1454. Archaeologists believe that, during this environmental crisis, the Mexica sacrificed dozens of young children to appease Tlaloc and bring rains back to the Basin of Mexico.

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Offering 48 corresponded to the construction stage IVa of the Great Temple, erected during the reign of Moctezuma Ilhuicamina. (Screenshot/INAH)

Discovery of Offering 48: Insights from the Templo Mayor

According to an INAH press release, the story of these tragic offerings began with an excavation in 1980-1981 by the Templo Mayor Project, where archaeologists uncovered the remains of 42 young children in Offering 48. This ritual deposit was located in the northwest sector of the Templo Mayor, a monumental temple in the heart of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, dedicated to Tlaloc.

The offering included children adorned with ceremonial attire, including necklaces of precious stones, a green bead placed in each child’s mouth, and blue pigments used to anoint their bodies. Surrounding them were symbolic objects associated with Tlaloc: miniature jars, shells, bird bones, copal, and obsidian blades.

The sacrificial victims ranged from 2 to 7 years old and showed evidence of poor health, including malnutrition. Physical anthropologist Juan Alberto Román Berrelleza analyzed skeletal remains and identified signs of porotic hyperostosis—a bone condition often linked to anemia and nutritional deficiency—in many of the children. This physical evidence indicates the population’s hardship, likely exacerbated by food shortages and drought-induced famine.

These findings were discussed in depth by Leonardo López Luján, director of the Templo Mayor Project (PTM) at the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and other prominent researchers during a panel on “Water and Life” at El Colegio Nacional.

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For the Mexicas, offerings to Tlaloc supported daily life and agriculture. (Presentation screenshot/INAH)

Drought and Desperation: The Historical Context of 1454

The drought from 1452 to 1454 had devastating effects on the Mexica society and agriculture. With Lake Texcoco and its surrounding agricultural areas suffering from prolonged dry spells and erratic climate patterns, crop failure was widespread, leading to severe food scarcity. This environmental catastrophe is detailed in both archaeological records and written chronicles from the 16th century, which describe how Mexica rulers attempted to ease the crisis by redistributing resources from royal granaries and conducting mass sacrifices.

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Mass offering of infants dedicated to Tlaloc, coincided with the great drought of 1454 in the Basin of Mexico. (Screenshot/INAH)

The Mexica year ce tochtli (1 Rabbit) marked 1454 as a year of particular hardship. In response, the Mexica state authorized rituals to appease the tlaloque, Tlaloc’s divine attendants who were believed to control rainfall. The sacrificial offering of children was one of the most intense acts of devotion intended to sway the god’s favor, seeking divine intervention to bring back the rains. According to historical records, the Mexica even exchanged enslaved individuals from other regions to supplement their offerings and alleviate their suffering.

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Climate fluctuations profoundly influenced the economic and religious dynamics of Mexico-Tenochtitlan. (Screenshot/INAH)

A Multicultural Influence in Offering 48

Further investigation using isotope analysis on the remains, led by Dr. Diana Moreiras Reynaga at the University of British Columbia, revealed that some of the sacrificed children were not native to Mexico-Tenochtitlan. Instead, they originated from distant areas, including Oaxaca and the highlands of Chiapas and Guatemala. This discovery underscores the Mexica’s far-reaching influence, drawing people from diverse regions into the cultural and ritual practices of the Mexica capital.

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Despite the redistribution measures adopted by Moctezuma, many Mexican families were forced to sell their offspring in exchange for provisions. (Screenshot/INAH)

Environmental Insights and the Role of Sacrifice in Mexica Society

The Mexica held deep reverence for water, rain, and agricultural fertility, and their calendar reflects this. Nine out of the 18 months in their agricultural year included ceremonies dedicated to Tlaloc and other rain deities. These events often culminated in sacrifices, some of which involved children who, according to belief, would join the tlaloque in assisting Tlaloc to bring rain.

However, the environmental pressures from prolonged drought eventually overwhelmed the Mexica state’s coping mechanisms, resulting in social and political strain. López Luján suggests that, faced with an enduring drought and diminishing food supplies, Mexica authorities resorted to radical measures, including mass sacrifices and opening granaries to prevent social collapse.

Cultural Significance and Continuing Research

The Offering 48 discovery sheds light on the Mexica’s complex responses to environmental and social pressures, as well as their willingness to make extreme sacrifices for communal survival. Present-day researchers continue to study the remains of this and other offerings to gain insights into the social and environmental challenges faced by pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica.

This tragic yet revealing archaeological finding adds to our understanding of Mexica spiritual life and also highlights how ancient societies responded to crises with resilience and ritual. By dedicating these children to Tlaloc, the Mexica demonstrated the intense religious and cultural significance they placed on ensuring the community’s survival through any means necessary.

With the drought coming to an end in 1454, it would not be the cause of the end of the Mexica empire, but the invasion by the Spanish conquistadors 65 years later.

Top image: Offering 48 contained the skeletal remains of at least 42 children sacrificed in honor of the god Tlaloc. Source: Screenshot/INAH

By Gary Manners

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