Were ancient Aztecs ever buried in tombs or graves? What did they do with their dead?
   Sophia, 12, St. Louis, MO

Dr. dig responds:
We are lucky enough to have a description of Aztec burial rituals written by Diego Duran, a 16th-century priest who studied the history of the Aztec people. He tells us that the Aztecs could be buried under the houses, in the yards, in fields, or in special shrines in the woods. The dead would be dressed in their finest clothes, and some were buried with pottery offering bowls. Archaeologists have confirmed that this is a true account, with several child graves discovered in and around houses. Adult burials, however, are surprisingly rare--we need to keep looking! Not all Aztecs were buried, however, some were cremated and their remains stored in pots.