Tlatilco was a large pre-Columbian village in the Valley of Mexico situated near the modern-day town of the same name in the Mexican Federal District . It was one of the first chiefdom centers to arise in the Valley, flourishing on the western shore of Lake Texcoco during the Middle Pre-Classic period , between the years of 1200 BCE and 200 BCE. It gives its name to the " Tlatilco culture ", which also included the town of Tlapacoya , on the eastern shore of Lake Chalco .
25-404: Tlatilco is noted in particular for its high quality pottery pieces, many featuring Olmec iconography, and its figurines, including Olmec-style baby-face figurines . Much else, however, seems to be in a native ceramic tradition. These Olmec-style artifacts have led to speculation concerning the nature of Olmec influence on other Mesoamerican cultures . The Tlatilco site was used in modern times as
50-653: A cessation of the use of Olmec iconography and forms. Many Tlatilco figurines show deformities or other anomalies, including a "duality" mask and several two-headed female figures . This has led some researchers to wonder whether Tlatilco was perhaps a cluster site for conjoined twins. The name "Tlatilco" comes from the Nahuatl language , in which it means "in the place of mounds". 19°30′N 99°15′W / 19.500°N 99.250°W / 19.500; -99.250 Olmec figurine#Baby-face figurines Olmec figurines are archetypical figurines produced by
75-553: A number of tiny naturalistic figurines. Another pervasive Olmec figurine type features crouching figurines with thin bodies and over-large oval heads with small noses and receding chins. Some researchers such as Miguel Covarrubias generally characterise these figurines as "dwarfs". many others, also including Covarrubias, see evidence of "what looks like pre-natal posture". In a 1999 article, Carolyn Tate and Gordon Bendersky analysed head-to-body ratios and concluded that these figurines are naturalistic sculptures of fetuses, and discuss
100-477: A semicircle in front of six jade celts , perhaps representing stelae or basalt columns. Two of the figurines were made from jade , thirteen from serpentine , and one of reddish granite. This granite figurine one was positioned with its back to the celts, facing the others. All of the figurines had similar classic Olmec features including bald elongated heads. They had small holes for earrings, their legs were slightly bent, and they were undecorated – unusual if
125-522: A source of clay for brick-making. By the 1930s, many of the ancient artifacts thereby uncovered made their way into the hands of collectors, including Miguel Covarrubias , artist and ethnographer. Covarrubias led the first controlled excavation in 1942. By 1949, over 200 burials were identified at Tlatilco, leading to its categorisation as a necropolis . Two major archaeological excavations followed, with over 500 burials eventually identified, many with intact grave offerings. The last field season also undertook
150-450: A systematic survey of non-burial structures, leading to the realization that these hundreds of burials were apparently located under ancient houses—although no traces of them remain - as well as among the various trash pits, and that Tlatilco was not a necropolis, but rather a major chiefdom center. Many burials, primarily of high status individuals, show evidence of dental mutilation and artificial cranial deformation , most probably through
175-449: Is the jaguar transformation figurine ( see Commons photo ), which show a wide variety of styles, ranging from human-like figurines to those that are almost completely jaguar, and several where the subject appears to be in a stage of transformation. Despite the many stylised figurines, Olmec-period artisans and artist also portrayed humans naturalistically with "a most extraordinary realistic technique". The lead photo for this article shows
200-513: Is thought, based on wooden busts recovered from the water-logged El Manati site, that figurines were also carved from wood, but, if so, none have survived. More durable and better known by the general public are those figurines carved, usually with a degree of skill, from jade , serpentine , greenstone , basalt , and other minerals and stones. The " baby-face " figurine is a unique marker of Olmec culture, consistently found in sites that show Olmec influence, although they seem to be confined to
225-667: The Formative Period inhabitants of Mesoamerica . While not all of these figurines were produced in the Olmec heartland , they bear the hallmarks and motifs of Olmec culture. While the extent of Olmec control over the areas beyond their heartland is not yet known, Formative Period figurines with Olmec motifs were widespread in the centuries from 1000 to 500 BCE, showing a consistency of style and subject throughout nearly all of Mesoamerica. These figurines are usually found in household refuse, ancient construction fill, and, outside
250-460: The La Venta archaeological site, archaeologists found what they subsequently named "Offering 4". These figurines had been ritually buried in a deep, narrow hole, and covered over with three layers of colored clay. At some point after the original burial, someone dug a small hole down just to the level of their heads and then refilled it. Offering 4 consists of sixteen male figurines positioned in
275-869: The "rain baby", the were-jaguar's body, if shown, is baby- or childlike. Its eyes are almond-shaped – or occasionally slit-like. Its nose is human. Its downturned mouth is open, as if in mid-squall. The upper lip is everted and toothless gums are often visible. Olmec motifs associated with the were-jaguar include a cleft on the head or headdress, a headband, and cross-bars. Most were-jaguar figurines show an inert were-jaguar baby being held by an adult. Many other Olmec figurines combined human and animal features. Although figurines showing such combinations of features are generally termed "transformation figures", some researchers argue that they represent humans in animal masks or animal suits, while others state that they likely represent shamans . At least one transformation figure displays bat-like features. Most common, however,
SECTION 10
#1732765407705300-460: The Olmec heartland, graves. However, many Olmec-style figurines, particularly those labelled as Las Bocas - or Xochipala -style, were recovered by looters and are therefore without provenance . The vast majority of figurines are simple in design, often nude or with a minimum of clothing, and made of local terracotta . Most of these recoveries are mere fragments: a head, arm, torso, or a leg. It
325-409: The characteristics of Gulf Coast Olmec artifacts. Group 2 figurines are also slimmer than those of Group 1, lacking the jowly face or fleshy body, and their bodies are larger in proportion to their heads. Given the sheer numbers of baby-face figurines unearthed, they undoubtedly fulfilled some special role in the Olmec culture. What they represented, however, is not known. Michael Coe , says "One of
350-432: The detail shown on their faces. Also called "hollow babies", these figurines are generally from 25–35 cm (9.8–13.8 in) high and feature a highly burnished white- or cream- slip . They are only rarely found in archaeological context . Archaeologist Jeffrey Blomster divides baby-face figurines into two groups based on several features. Among the many distinguishing factors, Group 1 figurines more closely mirror
375-503: The early Olmec period and are largely absent, for example, in La Venta . These ceramic figurines are easily recognized by the chubby body, the baby-like jowly face, downturned mouth, and the puffy slit-like eyes. The head is slightly pear-shaped, likely due to artificial cranial deformation . They often wear a tight-fitting helmet not dissimilar to those worn by the Olmec colossal heads . Baby-face figurines are usually naked, but without genitalia . Their bodies are rarely rendered with
400-880: The elongated, flat-topped heads are reflective of the practice of artificial cranial deformation , as found in the Tlatilco burials of the same period or among the Maya of a later era. No direct evidence of this practice has been found in the Olmec heartland , however. The ears often have small holes for ear flares or other ornaments. These figurines may have therefore once worn earrings and even clothes made of perishable materials. It has been proposed that these figurines had multiple outfits for different ritual occasions – as Richard Diehl puts it, "a pre-Columbian version of Barbie 's Ken ". These figurines are usually carved from jade and well under 1 ft (30 cm) in height. For another example, see this Commons photo . At
425-499: The figurines were gods or deities – but were instead covered with cinnabar . Interpretations abound. Perhaps this particular formation represents a council of some sort—the fifteen other figurines seem to be listening to the red granite one, with the celts forming a backdrop. One of the most striking offerings found at La Venta, the celts in Offering Number 4, depict a person with a ceremonial headdress “flying” and also
450-414: The four Massive Offerings and four mosaics. Why such works would be buried continues to generate much speculation. The so-called were-jaguar motif runs through much of Olmec art, from the smallest jade to some of the largest basalt statues. The motif is found inscribed on celts , votive axes, masks, and on "elongated man" figurines. Also termed, somewhat more neutrally, the "composite anthropomorph" or
475-487: The great enigmas in Olmec iconography is the nature and meaning of the large, hollow, whiteware babies". Another common figurine style features standing figurines in a stiff artificial pose and characterized by their thin limbs, elongated, bald, flat-topped heads, almond-shaped eyes, and downturned mouths. The figurines' legs are usually separated, often straight, sometimes bent. Toes and fingers, if shown at all, are frequently represented by lines. It has been theorized that
500-469: The indigenous cultures of southeastern Australia , and among the Māori of New Zealand (who knew greenstone as pounamu ). Neolithic Europe also used greenstone, especially for prestige versions of axe tools, not made for use; comparable jade versions of tools and weapons also appeared in the Olmec and other Pre-Columbian cultures and in early Chinese civilization. This article relating to archaeology
525-415: The maize deity. There appears to be a definite symbolic link here, but it is unclear whether it is tied to the Olmec rudimentary writing system. To the red granite figurine's right, there seems be a line of three figurines filing past him. Another researcher has suggested that the granite figure is an initiate. As the name implies, Offering 4 is one of many ritual offerings uncovered at La Venta, including
SECTION 20
#1732765407705550-711: The possibility of infanticide and infant sacrifice. Greenstone (archaeology) Greenstone is a common generic term for valuable, green-hued minerals and metamorphosed igneous rocks and stones which early cultures used in the fashioning of hardstone carvings such as jewelry, statuettes, ritual tools, and various other artifacts. Greenstone artifacts may be made of greenschist , chlorastrolite , serpentine , omphacite , chrysoprase , olivine , nephrite , chloromelanite among other green-hued minerals. The term also includes jade and jadeite , although these are perhaps more frequently identified by these latter terms. The greenish hue of these rocks generally derives from
575-467: The presence of minerals such as chlorite , hornblende , or epidote . Greenstone minerals were presumably selected for their color rather than their chemical composition. In archaeology therefore, having a loosely applied general term is at least partially influenced by the observation that ancient cultures often used and considered these various green-hued materials as interchangeable. Greenstone objects are often found very considerable distances from
600-661: The source of the rock, indicating early travel or trading networks. A polished jadeite axe head in the British Museum (4000-2000 BCE) was found in Canterbury, Kent but uses stone from the Alps of Northern Italy, and objects from other parts of the world had travelled comparable distances to their findspots. Ancient China and Mesoamerica have special reputations for the prevalence and significance of greenstone (particularly jade) usage. Greenstones also figure prominently in
625-434: The use of cradleboards . The Tlatilcans' agriculture was focused on maize, but also included beans, amaranth , and squash, and chili peppers. These plants were supplemented with various fowl, including migratory birds, wild rabbits and other smaller mammals, and deer and antelope. Tlatilco reached its heyday during the period from 1000 to 700 BCE , during the Olmec horizon . The following Zacatenco phase (700-400 BCE) saw
#704295