from shaft-chamber tomb in Nayarit, West Mexico
Add to albumThis figure of a standing man with his arms outstretched comes from a shaft-and-chamber tomb. It was buried with the dead as one of the grave gifts, and no doubt had symbolic significance. It is of a well-known style of pottery from the Nayarit region.
This hollow ceramic figure, with a dark red-brown burnished surface, shows a standing man with deliberately deformed head, small outstretched arms, large legs and arched feet. His genitals are not shown. He wears a headband, earrings and a nose ring.
Many shaft-and-chamber tombs were built for multiple burials in West Mexico between 300 BC-AD 200. Several pottery figures were deposited as grave goods, along with jewellery and other possessions. These figures may have been companions for the dead.
Record details
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- Online ID: 000-100-104-664-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland A.1962.723
- Date: 300 BC - AD 200
Between 300 BC and 200 AD
- Material: Figurine, human
- Dimensions: 13.00" H
- What: Figurine, human
- Subject: Figure pottery
- Who:
- Where: Mexico, Ancient Mexico, Western Mexico
- Event:
- Description: Figurine in pottery, coated with dark red slip, possibly representing a standing man: Ancient Mexico, from Western Mexico, Late Archaic Culture of Nayarit, Perequillo Style, 300 BC - AD 200
- References:
- Gallagher, J. 1983. Companions of the Dead: Ceramic Tomb Sculptures from Ancient West Mexico. Los Angeles: UCLA
- Townsend, R F 1998. Ancient West Mexico: Art and Archaeology of the Unknown Past. London: Thames & Hudson
- Translations:
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