Archaelogists associated with Mexico’s National Institute of Archaeology and History (INAH) made a strange discovery earlier this month at the Templo Mayor, the temple complex at the center of Mexico City, formerly ancient capital of Tenochtitlan.
The INAH archaelogists uncovered a ritual offering of starfish, about 160 in total, enveloping the skeleton of a jaguar, according to a recent video released by the institute. Like the majority of the offerings found at the Templo Mayor, the starfish were dedicated to the two-sided god Huehueteotl-Xiuhtecuhtli, who represents both water and fire, agriculture and war.
The starfish were first discovered in 2019 when archaeologists kept finding small white stones in a layer they were excavating in an altar. Their scientists quickly saw that they were the bones of starfish, which was further confirmed by the imprint of a starfish which was found mostly intact. The starfish found there are believed to all belong to the same species, Nidorellia armata, or the chocolate-chip starfish, on account of its black spots and beige pattern.
