Mexico finds skulls in a temple

MEXICO CITY - The Associated Press

The skulls are seen inside plastic boxes at an archaeological site in Mexico. Reuters photo

Mexican archaeologists say they have uncovered the largest number of skulls ever found in one offering at the most sacred temple of the Aztec empire dating back more than 500 years.

Experts say the finding reveals new ways the pre-Colombian civilization used skulls in rituals at Mexico City’s Templo Mayor. That’s where the most important Aztec ceremonies took place between 1325 until the Spanish conquest in 1521.

The 50 skulls were found at one sacrificial stone. Five were buried under the stone, and each had holes on both sides, the five skulls had been hung on a skull rack.

Archaeologist Raul Barrera of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History said Friday the other 45 skulls appeared to have just been dumped on top of the stone.