A 1,700-year-old monkey, the oldest evidence of a captive primate

Skeletal remains of a spider monkey over 1,700 years old constitute the earliest evidence of primate captivity, translocation, and gift diplomacy between Teotihuacán and the Maya.

The discovery was made by Nawa Sugiyama, an anthropological archaeologist at the University of California Riverside, and a team of archaeologists and anthropologists, who since 2015 have been excavating at the Plaza de Columnas Complex, in Teotihuacán, Mexico. Also remains of other animals were discovered, as well as thousands of fragments of Mayan-style murals and more than 14,000 ceramic sherds from a great fiesta. These pieces are over 1,700 years old.

Details of the discovery have been published in the journal PNAS. This finding allows researchers to gather evidence of high diplomacy interactions and discredits previous beliefs that the Mayan presence at Teotihuacán was restricted to immigrant communities, said Sugiyama, who led the research.

“Teotihuacán attracted people from all over, it was a place where people came to exchange goods, property and ideas. It was a place of innovation,” Sugiyama said in a statement.

“Finding the spider monkey has allowed us to uncover reassigned connections between Teotihuacán and Mayan leaders.. The spider monkey brought this dynamic space to life, represented in wall art. It’s exciting to reconstruct this living history.”

The researchers applied a multi-method archaeometric approach (zooarchaeology, isotopes, ancient DNA, paleobotany, and radiocarbon dating) to detail the life of this female spider monkey.a. The animal was probably between five and eight years old at the time of its death.

His skeletal remains were found alongside a golden eagle and several rattlesnakes, surrounded by unique artifacts such as fine greenstone figurines made of jade from the Motagua Valley in Guatemala, abundant shell/snail artifacts, and luxurious obsidian objects such as blades and projectile points. This is consistent with evidence of live sacrifice of symbolically potent animals participating in state rituals observed at the dedicatory caches of the Pyramids of the Moon and the Sun, the researchers stated in the paper.

The results of the examination of two teeth, the upper and lower canines, indicate that the spider monkey at Teotihuacán ate corn and chili peppers, among other foods. Bone chemistry, which offers insights into diet and environment, indicates at least two years in captivity. Before arriving at Teotihuacán, it lived in a humid environment, feeding mainly on plants and roots.

In addition to studying ancient rituals and uncovering pieces of history, the find allows for the reconstruction of broader narratives, understanding how these powerful advanced societies dealt with social and political stressors that largely mirror the world today, Sugiyama said.

“This helps us understand the principles of diplomacy, to understand how urbanism developed…and how it failed.” Sugiyama said. “Teotihuacán was a successful system for more than 500 years, understanding past resilience, its strengths and weaknesses are relevant in today’s society. There are many similarities then and now. Lessons from past societies can be seen and modeled; they provide us with tailored clues to move forward.”

Source-listindiario.com