Stan Declercq

Stan Declercq is a Belgian researcher affiliated with the Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (ENAH) in Mexico. He specializes in Mesoamerican cultures, particularly the complex practices surrounding cannibalism among the Mexica and Maya societies. His recent work, 'Comer al otro. Canibalismo, guerra y ritualidad en los antiguos nahuas' (2025), aims to demystify the historical context of human consumption in these societies, arguing that the Mesoamerican understanding of humanity differs significantly from contemporary Western perspectives. Declercq introduces the concept of 'cosmofagia' to explain how various communities interacted through consumption, including the sacrificial practices involving human beings. His research provides critical insights into the socio-political implications of cannibalism in ancient Mesoamerican rituals.