Archaeology/Artifact

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Expert: - 10/5/2010


Question

Bat God
I received this statue of some type recently from someone who traveled a lot in Mexico and Guatemala area..Unfortunately they are deceased...Do you have any idea what this is? It is made of a light and crumbly stone..Many thanks..

Answer
Hi Joe,  It looks like it is made out of an unfired clay or perhaps a tuffa (volcanic rock like pumice) Both would be crumbly.  It does not look ancient.  I do not believe it to be Mayan, Olmec or Aztec in nature.  It could be relatively modern from a more recent cult type religious group.  I'll do some research on it and get back to you.

Ralph Salier

Expertise

Archaeologist for the last 30 years. Norh American generalist and Hopwell culture/Red Ocher culture specifically. Lithics Expert and Ground Stone tools.

Experience


Past/Present clients
Numerous museums in US and Canada. Several University Anthropology Departments.

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