Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish AmericaJoyce, Thomas Athol
History
Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish America
Joyce, Thomas Athol
Mayas -- Antiquities; Mexico -- Antiquities
Relief ornament moulded by hand is common throughout the Maya area, and
in the Vera Paz region vases are frequently found in the shape of birds
and beasts, sometimes with a human face enclosed in the jaws (similar
to Pl. XVIII, 5). The combination of human and animal forms is
characteristic of Yucatan, but interesting specimens of this type have
been found in the Vera Paz region, as well as the plain bird and beast
forms (Fig. 70), though here both types bear a striking similarity to
the Sacrificios vases. An extremely interesting vase, with a human head
moulded in relief, has been found near Coban. This is exactly similar
to certain Zapotec pots, and the head and head-dress are in true
Zapotec style; but the paste is different, and the vase is coated with
the slate-coloured earth-glaze, mentioned above, which has never been
found in the Zapotec area. All indications seem to prove that it was
made locally, and if this is so, it affords a striking instance of the
borrowing of forms and illustrates the danger of basing arguments as to
tribal migration on pottery types alone, though it provides a valuable
hint of cultural contact. It is worthy of remark that the animal forms
seem borrowed from the fauna of the Tierra caliente, a fact which goes
far to indicate that the potters of Alta Vera Paz borrowed from the
Totonac and people of Tabasco and not _vice versa_.
The most elaborate relief decoration, not made in moulds, seems to
have been applied to censers, and the large specimens in cylindrical
form which have been found from the Chacula district to that of Coban,
are particularly bold and vigorous in treatment (Fig. 71). In the case
of vessels of this type much of the ornament appears to have been
applied, but fragments of censers of another pattern, with handles,
and conforming more closely to the type shown in Pl. IX; p. 82, have
been discovered, perhaps more frequently in Vera Paz. These exhibit
considerable artistic and technical skill in their construction; the
handles are hollow, and usually terminate in a grotesque face, the
eyes and mouth of which form apertures connected with the cavity in
the handle. The numerous fragments of figurines of rather coarse
unburnished clay found throughout British Honduras seem in most
cases to have formed part of large vessels, which probably served
as censers (Pl. X, 3; p. 108). Free use was made of applied details
in this district, as can be seen from the illustration on Pl. X, 3;
p. 108. From the Pokomam region come peculiar circular dishes, with
broad flat rims, the vertical walls of which are studded with conical
projections; it is possible that these vessels also, which appear to
be characteristic of the district, were censers. In the Uloa valley
fragments of vases of a peculiar type have been found, distinguished by
lugs in the form of animal heads. Pots of this description are usually
further decorated with painted designs of good quality in yellow,
orange, brown and black (as Fig. 67; p. 311).
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