Monkeys in the City of Gods: On the Primate Remains and Representations in Teotihuacan, Central Mexico

Abstract

Primates are mammals with high cultural significance in ancient societies. The objective of this research is to explore the material culture and biological remains of primates found in Teotihuacan, one of the largest pre-Hispanic urban areas of Mexico. Remains of Mesoamerican spider monkeys (Ateles cf. A. geoffroyi) were found in the Pyramid of the Moon, Xalla, and the Plaza of the Columns. Portable material culture that resembles primates was recovered elsewhere within Teotihuacan, but mostly in Tetitla and La Ventilla. Murals with representations of monkeys were found at these last two Teotihuacan sites. Possibly, primates reached Teotihuacan because of relationships with peoples from more distant lands such as the Mayan region as well as the Oaxacan province ruled by Monte Albán. The rise of the presence of primates in Teotihuacan occurred during the Classic period (~200–550 CE); however, it is relatively scarce considering the large size of the city and the long period of time in which Teotihuacan had been researched. Nevertheless, the existence of monkeys in Teotihuacan, either as exotic animals or as portable objects, does also seem to indicate that they were disseminated within different parts of the city. Thus, living primates and their representations circulated with their symbolic value in Teotihuacan, particularly among members of the ruling elite, and likely among members of other neighboring Mesoamerican societies.

Los primates no humanos son mamíferos con gran importancia cultural en las sociedades pasadas. El objetivo de esta investigación es explorar la cultura material y los restos biológicos de primates hallados en Teotihuacán, una de las áreas urbanas prehispánicas más grandes del centro de México. Se encontraron restos de monos araña mesoamericanos (Ateles cf. geoffroyi) en la Pirámide de la Luna, Plaza de Las Columnas y Xalla. Cultura material que representa a primates fue recuperada en varias partes de Teotihuacán, pero principalmente en Tetitla y La Ventilla. A su vez, se encontraron murales con representaciones de monos en sitios dentro y fuera de la ciudad. Probablemente, los primates llegaron a Teotihuacán a través de relaciones con personas de áreas más lejanas, como la región de Oaxaca y el área Maya, o por el intercambio comercial con Monte Albán. El auge de la presencia de primates en Teotihuacán coincide con el apogeo de la ciudad durante el Periodo Clásico (200–550 d.C.). Sin embargo, la existencia de monos dentro de la ciudad es relativamente rara considerando el tamaño de la urbe en esa época.