The findings from two of the thirteen skulls reveal a more gruesome truth related to the pyramid in the eastern square of the ancient city of Moral-Reforma.
According to Ancient Origins, the skulls were excavated from several graves dating over 1,000 years, belonging to the Mora-Reforma archaeological site in Tabasco, Mexico.
The analyzed skulls among 13 unusual skulls excavated near the pyramid – (Photo: INAH).
This archaeological site was once a thriving Maya city for centuries before being abandoned around 1000 AD.
The skulls have intrigued archaeologists due to their unusually elongated shape—resembling the heads of aliens in science fiction films—leading research to indicate that this shape was intentionally created by binding the heads over many years.
Two of the skulls were found bisected with extremely clean cuts, leading scientists to believe that at least two of these individuals were victims of a gruesome sacrificial ritual by the Maya during the Classic period (600-900 AD).
The location of the event was a pyramid, which also served as a temple in the eastern square of the ancient city.
The massive twin pyramids in the ruins of the ancient Maya city – Moral-Reforma of Mexico – (Photo: INAH).
The aforementioned facts have been revealed through an extensive study by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico, hoping that through these remains, they can gain insights into the customs, rituals, and diet of the ancient Maya.
According to Heritage Daily, the morphological analysis of 5 out of the 13 skulls has been completed, including 2 skulls showing signs of decapitation. All five individuals were male, with ages estimated between 17-25 for two of them, 33-45 for another two, and 25-35 for the last one. The age estimates are based on dental wear.
These skulls show evidence of a type of artificial cranial modification to achieve a shape “like extraterrestrial,” which for the Maya represented a display of high status.
To achieve this shape, individuals were head-bound from a young age, leading to the development of bone hypertrophy and elongation of the skull towards the back.
The graves of some individuals were covered with a red substance, possibly cinnabar—often used in the tombs of Maya nobility. The arrangement of the graves also reflects a special ritual, further confirming that they were sacrificial graves.
However, the reason why these individuals were chosen for such a gruesome sacrificial ritual remains a mystery.
