A 1,700-Year-Old Spider Monkey Skeleton Revealed How Native Americans Interacted Politically

How do you reassure a potentially dangerous political rival that you can be friends? The Mayan answer: Say it with spider monkeys. An archaeological dig carried out in the ancient city of Teotihuacan appears to confirm that the Mayans sent a gift of friendship to their troublesome northern neighbors (via National Geographic
The exotic present may have been necessary given the sometimes-difficult relationship between the two states. In the 4th century A.D., the ancient Mayan civilization was caught in a power struggle with its rival to the north, Teotihuacan (now on the outskirts of Mexico City). The details are hazy, but at some point, a threatening-sounding lord named "Fire is Born" arrived in the Mayan metropolis of Tikal and unleashed a major political upheaval that dethroned their king (via Smithsonian Magazine).

The nature of the relationship between the two powers leading up to the conquest is unknown, but archaeologists believe the female spider monkey skeleton — found at the base of a pyramid in Teotihuacan — may indicate a period of relative harmony. Spider monkeys cannot live in the dry desert-like region of Teotihuacan, leading researchers to conclude that the animal was a gift from the forested regions of the Maya.
A 1,700-Year-Old Spider Monkey Skeleton Revealed How Native Americans Interacted Politically