Lake Xaltocan

Lake Xaltocan is located in the northern Basin of Mexico. The documentation of its ecological characteristics has been difficult due to the intensive human activities during the Postclassic period, especially the construction of large-scale chinampas on the lake which modified previous deposits (Morehart et al. 2012:428). Most communities that have been identified in the northern Basin of Mexico during the Epiclassic period were "small hamlets or villages along the lake and lakeshore" (Morehart et al. 2012:428). The maize cobs recovered at the southern limit of Lake Xaltocan were found in what was identified as a shrine (designated Non-Grid 4). Artifacts recovered included: perforated seashell pendants, greenstone artifacts (mostly beads), figurines (many of the deity Tlaloc), and figured elements representing maize cobs and chile peppers (some of which were parts of larger incense burners) (Morehart et al. 2012:428). Human remains were also recovered during excavations in Burials (1 & 2) and Morehart et al. (2012:432) suggest these remains show evidence of human sacrifice.