Item found among human skulls sheds new light on ancient civilisation: 'Only one in the world'

By studying artefacts, researchers have unearthed a new understanding of the Aztec Empire. But for the lead researcher one object stands out as unique.

Michael Dahlstrom·Environment Editor
Updated Tue 13 May 2025 at 1:45 am GMT-5·4-min read

Mystery surrounds an ancient “scythe” or “blade” discovered at a ceremonial offering site between two human skulls. The dark-green tool is one of almost 800 important artefacts from the Aztec Empire that archaeologist Diego Matadamas-Gomora has studied, and yet it's this one that stands out as unique.

While associations between the scythe and the Grim Reaper gathering the souls of the dead date back to the fourteenth century in Europe, it’s believed the object found inside Templo Mayor in modern-day Mexico City developed independently, despite its similar shape.

“Because it was located very close to these human skulls, it’s probably something related to the dead or the underworld,” Matadamas-Gomora told Yahoo News Australia.

“There’s only one in the entire world so far, and I’m very intrigued. It’s beautiful and complex, and making it required a lot of specialisation. This artefact is not sharp, you can’t cut anything with it, so it’s a symbol. We call it a scythe for comparison, but we don’t know what it is.”

More:
https://au.news.yahoo.com/item-found-among-human-skulls-sheds-new-light-on-ancient-civilisation-only-one-in-the-world-064528397.html