As far as I can identify, a lizard was carved in this peculiar object onto a decorated hollow cone and with four s. The animal has a certain anthropomorphic appearance; it stands on its four extremities bent forward and backward at right angles, the tail ends in a tip and the lateral edges are jagged; other toothed marks are seen in the contour of the head and in the lower half of the legs. Two horns protrude from the head, the eyes are sunken, the nose is a rectangular prism and in the large mouth the incising emphasizes the teeth. The combination of features allows us to recognize it as a horned lizard, a small reptile whose body has spiny scales and occipital or temporal horns.
The lizard rests on a hollow conical shape; a reticulated design was engraved on the sides, which implies the scaly skin of some reptiles, such as the alligator or crocodile, and the horned lizard itself. This squared section is limited on two sides by small rounded protuberances that are also seen around the frontal opening of the cone; each one is marked with a cross; I think they are likely to represent the fruit of the tobacco plant and, if so, would indicate that the instrument could have served for smoking.
As is known, tobacco is native to America; the ancient Mexicans consumed it extensively, and in addition, artistic images of smokers are known in diverse cultures. Its uses are classified as ritual, recreational and medicinal; the foliage contains the slightly intoxicating alkaloid called nicotine, so that the leaves were chewed fresh or boiled, and when dried were prepared in cigars or pipes. The tobacco fruit is an ovoid capsule 3 to 6 cm long covered by a husk, its inner section is divided into two parts containing numerous tiny seeds; in its upper top two crossed lines are reminiscent of the mentioned raised motifs.
The body of the lizard has a cylindrical perforation in the middle part, which indicates the object could have been hung, like a pendant.
As far as I can identify, a lizard was carved in this peculiar object onto a decorated hollow cone and with four s. The animal has a certain anthropomorphic appearance; it stands on its four extremities bent forward and backward at right angles, the tail ends in a tip and the lateral edges are jagged; other toothed marks are seen in the contour of the head and in the lower half of the legs. Two horns protrude from the head, the eyes are sunken, the nose is a rectangular prism and in the large mouth the incising emphasizes the teeth. The combination of features allows us to recognize it as a horned lizard, a small reptile whose body has spiny scales and occipital or temporal horns.
