Valley of the Sun and Moon/vtourist.com
Posted on 05/25/2007 12:04:19 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
MEXICO CITY - Archaeologists diving into a lake in the crater of a snowcapped volcano found wooden scepters in the shape of lightning bolts that match the description by Spanish priests and conquerors writing 500 years ago about offerings to the Aztec rain god.
The lightning bolts — along with cones of copal incense and obsidian knives — were found during scuba-diving expeditions in one of the twin lakes of the extinct Nevado de Toluca volcano, at more than 13,800 feet above sea level.
Scientists must still conduct tests to determine the age of the findings, but the writings after the Spanish conquest in 1521 have led them to believe the offerings were left in the frigid lake west of Mexico City more than 500 years ago.
Lightning bolt scepters "were used by Aztec priests when they were doing rites associated with the god Tlaloc," said Johan Reinhard, an anthropologist and explorer-in-residence for National Geographic Society who took part in more dives Thursday at the Lake of the Moon. "We think it is pretty clear that the Aztecs considered this one of the more important places of Tlaloc."
The research, which also involves the volcano's Lake of the Sun, is being led by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History. Stanislaw Iwaniszewski, an archaeology professor at the institute, said Aztec iconography often associates Tlaloc with lightning bolts.
"They were left in the lake to bring rain storms," Iwaniszewski said. Copal incense was burned to form "clouds," and sharp spines from the maguey cactus — which does not grow at that altitude — indicated worshippers brought them there to draw blood from themselves as part of the sacrifice.
Luis Alberto Martos, the institute's director of archaeological studies, said other artifacts found in the clear 32-degree waters of the lake indicate the ritual may have started about 100 B.C. — long before the Aztecas settled in the area in 1325.
Cool. Any pictures yet?
Lightning bolt scepters .. used by Aztec priests when they were doing rites associated with the god Tlaloc .. Lake of the Moon
Ping
Valley of the Sun and Moon/vtourist.com
Haven’t located any yet.. but looking.
Pretty cool location, an extinct volcano,, twin lakes with a big old lava dome between them
Ping!.....
Wow!
Pre FR Zots!
Double WoW! That’s amazing.
""They were left in the lake to bring rain storms," Iwaniszewski said. Copal incense was burned to form "clouds," and sharp spines from the maguey cactus — which does not grow at that altitude — indicated worshippers brought them there to draw blood from themselves as part of the sacrifice."
Only an archealogist would come to that conclusion.
These volcano god woershippers wouldn't think to use the KNIVES they thru into the lake to draw blood, heck no. They carried catus prickles to do that.....
It's a good thing there was a 500 year old story to go along with these artifacts, otherwize there would be a "billion year old discovery" headline, and a silly story to go along with it.
Gee tough choice, stick my self with cactus spines or slice myself with an obsidian blade, almost enough to make one want to vote democrat......almost.
Archaeologist Arturo Montero waits in a boat during work in Lake of the Moon in the crater of the extinct Nevado de Toluca volcano, Mexico, Thursday, May 24, 2007. Archaeologists have found wooden lightning bolts that match what Spanish priests wrote about 500 years ago while describing offerings at the lake by Aztecs to their rain god Tlaloc. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
TO GO WITH MEXICO MOUNTAIN ARCHAEOLOGY - Artifacts of wood sit in a bucket in an archaeological site in the crater of the extinct Nevado de Toluca volcano, Mexico, Thursday, May 24, 2007. Archaeologists have found wooden lightning bolts that match what Spanish priests wrote about 500 years ago while describing offerings at the lake by Aztecs to their rain god Tlaloc. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Thank you!! :-)
You’re welcome. I was curious what they actually found too. the slideshow with the article has some other pics of artifacts as well.
You presume they’d want ‘em. That might trigger a bunch of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. =8-0
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