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Aztec cannibalism: an ecological necessity?

B R de Montellano

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|May 12, 1978

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Aztec cannibalism, often linked to starvation, actually occurred during harvests, suggesting it was a thanksgiving ritual. This practice was not driven by famine but by religious beliefs of communing with the gods.

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Area of Science:

Archaeology
Anthropology
Nutritional Science

Background:

Proposed theories link Aztec human sacrifice and cannibalism to population pressure and famine.
Previous interpretations suggest scarcity as the primary driver for these practices.

Purpose of the Study:

To re-evaluate the motivations behind Aztec cannibalism.
To investigate the correlation between cannibalism and food availability in Aztec society.

Main Methods:

Analysis of historical records and archaeological evidence related to Aztec diet and agriculture.
Correlation analysis of cannibalism frequency with harvest seasons and periods of scarcity.

Main Results:

The peak incidence of Aztec cannibalism coincided with harvest times, not periods of scarcity.
Tenochtitlan possessed abundant food sources from tribute and intensive chinampa agriculture, sufficient to feed its population.
Protein from human sacrifice was nutritionally insignificant compared to other available sources like animals and insects.

Conclusions:

Aztec cannibalism was likely a thanksgiving ritual rather than a response to starvation.
Dietary needs and famine were not the primary motivators; religious beliefs regarding communion with the gods were more influential.