1,700-year-old spider monkey remains point to earliest evidence of primate captivity, translocation and gift diplomacy

The skeletons of a spider monkey give new evidence about the ties between the Teotihuacn and Maya rulers.

A team of archaeologists and anthropologists have been excavating at the Plaza of Columns Complex in Teotihuacn, Mexico for the past two years. Thousands of Maya-style mural fragments and thousands of ceramic sherds from a grand feast were also found. The pieces are more than a thousand years old.

The earliest proof of primate captivity is the spider monkey. The details of the discovery have been published. The research shows that the Maya presence in Teotihuacn was not limited to migrant communities.

Teotihuacn was a place where people came from all over to exchange goods. Professor Saburo Sugiyama, co-director of the project, said that it was a place of innovation.

The discovery of the spider monkey allowed us to discover new connections between Teotihuacn and the Maya. A spider monkey is depicted in the mural art. reconstructing a live history is exciting.

A multi method archaeometric approach was used to detail the life of a spider monkey. The animal was young at the time of death.

Its skeleton was found next to a golden eagle and several rattlesnakes, surrounded by unique artifacts, such as fine greenstone figurines made of jade and obsidian shell/snail artifacts. There is evidence of live sacrifice of symbolically potent animals in the dedicatory cache of the Moon and Sun Pyramid.

The spider monkey in Teotihuacn ate maize and chili peppers according to the results of the examination of two teeth. At least two years of captivity is indicated by the bone chemistry. It lived in a humid environment before it arrived in Teotihuacn.

The finding allows for a reconstruction of greater narratives, of understanding how these powerful, advanced societies dealt with social and political stressors that reflect today's world.

The principles of diplomacy, how urbanism developed and how it failed are all explained by this. The strengths and weaknesses of the Teotihuacn system are relevant today. There are many things in common. Lessons can be learned from past societies and can be used in the future.

The best evidence of primate captivity supports gift diplomacy between Teotihuacan and the Maya. 10.1073/pnas.2212431118

Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences