The secret of awe of an ancient Mexican group

For a long time, it has always been believed that the ancient isolated people of northern Mexico existed because of their own foods such as corn. However, more than 30 pieces of bone were discovered recently revealing a completely different secret.

Accordingly, archaeologists said that in fact, the Xiximes are a cannibal tribe.

Xiximes believe that eating parts of their enemies' bodies and using the remaining bones in the ritual will ensure a bumper harvest of cereals.

Cueva del Maguey - small village built inside a cave
The cave is quite large and is where human bones are found. (Photo: INAH)

Today's mountains in the state of Durango, northern Mexico have been home to about 5,000 Xiximes and many other indigenous groups.

Xiximes and Acaxées are thought to be specialized in cannibalism (however, there is still little evidence to support this in the Acaxées), José Luis Punzo, an archaeologist from the Institute of Anthropology and Mexican National History (INAH), said.

'Through rituals, cannibalism and bone storage, they marked a clear line between' us 'and a' them 'side , ' Punzo said.

In it, 'we' are the Acaxées and Xiximes and 'they' are all the rest of the groups. The two groups fought and killed other members of the group, he added.

The bones with carved lines
found in Cueva del Maguey. (Photo: INAH)

Some historians have doubts about this information and claim that the team exaggerated it. However, many bones found in Cueva del Maguey - which is a small village built inside a fairly large cave - have cleared any negation, Punzo said. Cueva del Maguey is located deep in a pine forest and is 2,600 meters above sea level.

Research shows that 80% of human bones that existed around 1425 found in the village were cooked and cut or cut with stone blades. The bones are relatively intact.

For Xiximes, the cycle of planting and sowing is tied to the cannibal ritual, according to INAH's announcement at the 14th Archaeological Conference held in Paquimé, Mexico.

Accordingly, after every corn harvest, Xiximes warriors proceed to hunt down their enemies and their flesh. The warriors will bring the corpses to the village, where the Xiximes split the flesh and remove the outer parts from the bone. This work is done carefully, making sure the bone does not break. In case it is impossible to bring the whole body back, the head and hands will be cut off to bring back.

Body parts are cooked in a pan until the bone appears. Meat is then cooked with beans and corn as a soup for villagers to eat during ritual nights. They sing, dance and "enjoy" this dish together.

When the party ended, they kept the bones in the warehouse. Then, in the growing season, the Xiximes hung their bones on the roofs and trees to entice souls to help them plant.

'All of this shows that this is the most savage group of the new world stage (New World), ' Punzo said.