Mexico 2022 - The Ball Courts

 Like Mayan societies centuries later the was a ritual of a "game" played in ball courts tied to the movement of the sun across the sky. In the Teuchitlan culture a ball, heavy, perhaps a bit smaller than a modern soccer ball, was moved across the court using only the hips. Were any other part of the body to touch the ball a point would be awarded to the other team. Other points were scored by being able to move the ball into the opposing teams side of the court.

 The remains of two courts are located at the site. The first is what the tour guide described as a practice court. Presumably a place where the skills needed would be taught. It is delineated by an outline of stones on the ground. One could imagine an older generation instructing the younger on the various aspects and moves of the game. 

Then there is the larger main court. There are stepped walls along each side for spectators. This event was used to settle disputes among the members of the society. One could "pick a fight: with another and challenge them to the ritual game. It was believed the winner would be ordained by the gods. 

It was a dangerous ritual. Apparently death, either by dehydration or injury, would occur. The challenge would be to perform from sunup to sundown, Archeologists believe that no rest, water or nourishment was allowed. In modern times one would think it would be difficult to recruit members to your team when the possibility of death could be a result. However, death on the court would be death in a holy place so one's accession to "heaven" would be assured. There is a mound on one end of the court where the partial remains of people were found. It appears that the entire body was not sacrificed but pieces of the body were, for example, the deceased's finger.

Aside from the pyramids and ball courts there is also a marketplace for trade and several high stone mounds, adjacent to one of the ceremonial pyramids, presumably homes of nobles. There was an ingenious agricultural system composed of floating gardens, the nearby lake being 5 times larger than it's current size. From the ruins high above a distinct rise can be seen as one looks down at the small town below indicating the lake's level in ancient times.

I did ask about drug or liquor use among the culture. The guide said that they just don't know. I did find an article stating no evidence about drug use has been discovered but it is known that peyote, for example, was used by other people of the time. It is possible that marihuana or plants containing psycho active properties could have been available and used by the ancient people but that information has been lost to history.