Archaeologists working in a residential compound at the ancient Mexican metropolis of Teotihuacán have unearthed a cache of twelve miniature rabbit figurines decorated with inlays of vivid turquoise and shell. These artifacts were found within a specialized hearth area, suggesting they were used in domestic rituals rather than state-sponsored ceremonies.
Researchers believe these figurines represent the 'Centzon Tōtōchtin' or 400 Rabbits, deities associated with pulque, a fermented agave beverage. The placement of the rabbits near fermentation jars suggests that early inhabitants held intimate festivals to bless the harvest and the potent drink, predating later Aztec celebrations by nearly a millennium.