Mayan ceramic and shell figurines of two archaeological sites near Mérida, Yucatán.
I share with you a series of images that represent the faces of the ancient inhabitants of the archaeological sites of Xpet-Ha and Soblonké, north of Caucel, Yucatán. Most of the figures were made of ceramic and one of them was made of seashell.
You can find more information in an article called 'Health, aesthetics and worldview. Use of three-dimensional models for the analysis of anthropomorphic representations of northern Caucel, Yucatán' (2023), published in the proceedings of the VI Ichkaantijoo Mayan Culture Symposium in co-authorship with Luis J. Venegas de la Torre, Sergio J. Uribe Bojórquez and Benjamín Esqueda Lazo de la Vega.
You can read the full publication, in Spanish, via the next link: https://www.academia.edu/117246054/Salud_estética_y_cosmovisión_Uso_de_Modelos_Tridimensionales_para_el_análisis_de_las_representaciones_antropomorfas_del_norte_de_Caucel_Yucatán
This series are representing the great cultural background of the ancient inhabitants of the Peninsula who lived in smaller spaces and settlements, without large pyramidal bases and houses of a 'lower social rank'.
At the site of Soblonké, an anthropomorphic element made by a specialized craftsman from a fragment of a Strombus snail by cutting, sgraffito, polishing and burnished was recovered and was possibly used as a pendant by one of the inhabitants of the site.
The figurine has 8 biconical perforations that help hold the piece and represents a face with a wide forehead, almond-shaped eyes, a wide nose and ears.
This other figurine has been identified as a masculine face, with cranial modification, wide nose, prominent cheekbones and thick lips. It was probably part of a complete ceramic figurine or perhaps attached to a vessel or other modeled object.
Another interesting feature is seen in the central part of its forehead, which is identified as a nose ring with two round beads at the top and an earring that seems to hang from the last bead. This earring may correspond to a feather pompom.
The most interesting feature of this figurine is that it presents a dual face, which on the one hand portrays a human appearance and on the other that of an animal.
In the past, a person was linked to an animal from birth; on other occasions this 'soul mate' could be acquired through rites and practices of asceticism and purification. The spirit animal provides its abilities and powers to the person who possesses it.