Description
Pre-Columbian Colima Terracotta Figures
From west Mexico
By the Colima culture from 200 BC-300 AD
Size roughly about 4.5 inches by 2 inches and weighing between 45-55 grams.
Pre-Columbian Colima terracotta figures from West Mexico are notable for their intricate artistry and cultural significance. These figures, often representing humans, animals, or mythological beings, were typically used in ceremonial contexts, including burial rituals, as offerings to the gods, or as symbolic guardians of the afterlife. Characterized by their exaggerated features, such as large eyes or stylized faces, the figures were made using a molding technique, with many showcasing a high degree of naturalism, especially in the depictions of human forms. These sculptures provide valuable insights into the spiritual beliefs, social practices, and daily life of the Colima people, whose artistic legacy continues to captivate archaeologists and art historians alike.
The Colima, as well as the Nayarit and Jalisco cultures buried their dead in shaft tombs. Shaft tombs are a type of Pre-Columbian burial tradition that originated in the Late Formative period of Mesoamerica (c. 400 BCE – CE 250). A shaft tomb is an underground burial site, typically located 3 to 20 meters underground which contains several, multigenerational burials of deceased kin groups. The deceased would be interred with an incredible variety of artifacts, such as vessels, lithic tools, ancestor figurines, effigies, and more. Importantly, these artifacts can help archaeologists discern key information about the religious, social, and economic systems that characterized the region during the Late Formative period.
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