Clay work during the Preclassic includes geometrically perfect, simple and elegant forms. The surface finish is carefully polished, while adornments incised with geometric components emphasize the pieces. In the case of the figurines, the female representations stand out; these are pieces that have survived until our times due to being part of the offerings that accompanied the burials of the time.
The vessels and figurines have been a source of information as by studying them, we have been able to see into not only the social life, but also the economic and religious life of this period.
Through these figurines, we have been able to see the physical body types of women, men and children of this period. They also show maternal love, in the representations of women carrying their children, and they show diseases, with representations of dwarves, or pieces with deformities. Other figurines are wearing elaborate outfits, which are thought to be figures with shamanic functions.
As stated, these figurines have allowed us to see the physical body types of the population of this period, and each element of jewelry, clothing, headdress, paint, or any body modification carries with it a message about the social status, lineage, religious ideas and political affiliations of the figures represented.
In this vein we have the lot of two pieces, which are a sample of the physical appearance of the people from this period, as well as the attire they wore, which conveyed some social status.
The first piece (719-1) consists of the rounded head of a masculine figure with a smoothed surface finish. The eyes are small, thin lines made with an incision technique, while the nose was placed with an application technique and looks large and round in profile. The mouth is broken, but was likely fashioned with an incision. The head has three locks of hair. The first is on the top of the head and consists of a long, thin vertical band. The other two locks are oval-shaped, and found on either side of the head at the height of the parietal bone. As part of the attire, the figure is wearing large earrings, placed using an application technique. These earrings are round and have a small circle in the center. The head of the figurine shows traces of red pigment on almost all of the piece, especially on the forehead, cheeks, and on the back.
The second piece (719-2) is the head of a male figure with a smoothed surface finish. His head is round, and an expression of happiness on his face is reflected in his eyes and mouth. The eyes were created using lightly curved lines made using an incision technique. The eyebrows are curved and bulging slightly, and the nose was placed using an application technique; it looks pointed from the front, and large in profile. The mouth is open and the large lips are well-detailed, showing a smile. The ears are large and were placed using an application technique. Only the left ear has an earring, which is circular. This figure has three perforations. One is in the back of the head, and the other two are on either side of the head at the height of the temples.
