Studying Figurines

Mazapan-Style Figurines at El Palacio and Their Significance for Early Postclassic Regional Interactions in Northern Michoacan

“…Finally, the collection from El Palacio is consistent with the contexts from which other researchers have reported recovering such artifacts (Haberland 1989:82; Klein and Lona 2009:327; Marcus 1998:312, 2018; Stocker 1974:55): highly fragmented material discovered in backfills, refuse areas, and surface collections. In brief, secondary contexts of refuse related to accidental or intentional breaking that does not inform us of their initial location and use.…”

“…The fabric of the figurines is highly consistent with the local homogeneous fabrics already identified for the Zacapu Basin, indicating that these objects were produced locally. Despite the fact that molding techniques have rarely been documented in Michoacan (Begun 2008; Marcus 2018), Jadot reconstructed the molding process and demonstrated the absence of additional techniques (except for the feet, sometimes added with appliqué)—the standard chaîne opératoire is only altered by later perforations and post-firing painting. These examples lend support to Stocker's previous suggestion that a separate mold was made for each of the unique figurines recovered.…”

“…Despite the limitations of the published corpus, it can be suggested that the uniqueness of each figurine, the apparent investment in its fabrication (the production of a mold to obtain a seemingly unique final artifact), their systematic fragmentation, and finally their location in dense strata in backfills or middens located in ritual areas reflect a very specific and likely short-term use for most of these artifacts. It is conceivable that both mold and figurine were produced for one ritual occasion, as a unique piece, and then were broken and disposed of after the ritual (see similar cases synthetized by Marcus 2018).…”

“…Such a use would be consistent with the presence of perforations for suspension and the thinness observed on at least three specimens in El Palacio collection. Systematic investigation of the thinness, the location of perforations, and the standing potential of figurines would allow further understanding of the ways in which such figurines were used and displayed and thus help to clarify their potential for embodiment and performance (Marcus 2018).…”

The Symbolism, Use, and Archaeological Context of Masks in Formative Period Coastal Oaxaca, Mexico

“…For ancient Mesoamericans, the face was considered one of the most important characteristics of the physical body and one closely related to identity. This is well exemplified by ceramic figurines, which often have generic bodies but expressive faces framed by individualizing hairdos, jewellery and representations of body modification (Blomster 2009; Faust & Halperin 2009; Hepp & Rieger 2014; R. Joyce 1998, 148, 152–3; Marcus 2018). Masks, which transform the face of a person or object, thus allow the wearer to perform identities related to the mask's features (R. Joyce 1998; Klein 1986).…”