Evidence of ancestor worship in southern Sinaloa. Archaeological excavations at San Miguel La Atarjea Escuinapa, Sinaloa

Abstract

Beginning with theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of household units and domestic rituals in particular, this text analyzes the information obtained during the archaeological exploration of San Miguel La Atarjea, an archaeological site in the municipality of Escuinapa, Sinaloa, where a household unit was excavated and yielded ten human burials. The data obtained and their comparison with ethnographic information on the Huichol xiriki (granaries) and domestic rituals of other indigenous groups in Mesoamerica suggest that from AD 250 to 750, direct ancestors, who were buried under the floors of their homes, were worshipped as in other regions of ancient Mexico in southern Sinaloa.