Based on technological and traceological studies on shell and stone objects, a manufacturing tradition from the Central Highlands has been hypothesized that encomes up to and including the northern part of Guerrero and begins in the Middle Preclassic era at the sites of Las Bocas (1250-800 B.C.), Teopantecuanitlan (1200-400 B.C.), and which continues in Teotihuacan (200-900 A.D.), Tula (700-1250 A.D.) and Tenochtitlan in the fourth stage (1440-1469 A.D.). In these sites, from the analysis of traces during manufacturing, a similarity has been determined in tools used wherein andesite is mainly used to grind, obsidian to cut and flint to drill and finish.
This tradition can be seen in a large number of archaeological objects that often share various morphological and functional attributes, as well as raw materials, rendering them easily identifiable. In the same sense they share techniques and processes during their elaboration, which suggests a deeply rooted tradition, especially in the Basin of Mexico. It should be noted that many times their representations can be determined from certain canons of Nahua cultures. This is the case in the Amparo Museum's two masks.
This pendant in the shape of an anthropomorphic mask has a flat surface, an irregular face and convex walls with two bi-conical perforations at the top. It displays incisions that highlight the facial traits. It shows shell inlays in the eyes, probably Strombus galeatus. Its technological aspects coincide with elements of Central Mexico.
The mask in the image has a very common expression in anthropomorphic figurines from the Basin of Mexico for the Post-Classic period; however, certain attributes of the nose, eyes and mouth remind us of some masks from Guerrero. It most likely belongs to the Central Highlands tradition, in which influences from earlier cultures such as Mezcala can be identified in certain elements.
Based on technological and traceological studies on shell and stone objects, a manufacturing tradition from the Central Highlands has been hypothesized that encomes up to and including the northern part of Guerrero and begins in the Middle Preclassic era at the sites of Las Bocas (1250-800 B.C.), Teopantecuanitlan (1200-400 B.C.), and which continues in Teotihuacan (200-900 A.D.), Tula (700-1250 A.D.) and Tenochtitlan in the fourth stage (1440-1469 A.D.). In these sites, from the analysis of traces during manufacturing, a similarity has been determined in tools used wherein andesite is mainly used to grind, obsidian to cut and flint to drill and finish.
