More than 500 years ago, beneath what is now the historic centre of Mexico City, Mexica priests placed an extraordinary animal inside a carefully constructed ritual deposit. The animal was a female Mexican wolf . She was elderly, had suffered severe osteoarthritis, and appears to have received substantial care during her lifetime. In death, however, she was transformed into something very different. Her body was adorned with turquoise mosaic ear ornaments, greenstone beads, shell ornaments and gold bells. Around her were sacrificial knives, birds, marine animals, shells, corals, fish, crabs and other creatures. The entire deposit was then sealed beneath the ceremonial precinct of Tenochtitlan, the Mexica capital. The burial is known as Offering 125 of the Templo Mayor. For years, researchers could not establish whether the animal was a domestic dog or a Mexican wolf. More recent work has identified her as a Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi), adding another dimension to an already...
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