This sculpture is a fragment of a larger clay work. It is very possible that it belongs to one of the sculptures that were made in Central Veracruz during the Classic period. It is a naturalist type of sculpture whose tradition lasted until the Post-Classic.
Central Veracruz has been characterized by its elegant and sophisticated clay sculpture. A large number of female sculptures with two intertwined snakes like a belt to hold up the skirt or as a headdress have been found in this region, in an archeological context, in places such as El Zapotal. More abstract representations are seen in sculptures with the same theme, in forked snake helmets.
The two intertwined snakes are a common motif and have been widespread in Mesoamerica since ancient times. These representations have a good amount of derivations. One of them comprises mythical being that acquires a wide variety of forms. This motif is associated with gods that are very important in Mesoamerican cosmogony, such as Tlaltecuhtli, or the so-called earth-monster, Tlaloc and Coatlicue.
One very common form that survives extensively in the Post-Classic period is the representation of the jaws of the mythical being known as the earth-monster or Tlaltecuhtli. The heads of two ed snakes form its most simple figure, which appears as a monster with open jaws. There is a play on symmetry when the snakes are placed side by side in front of one other, forming a being with two eyes. Their snouts come together to form jaws with four fangs as the former and latter views combine into a single plain as they reveal themselves to the viewer at the same time. It is a frequent resource in the conventions of Mesoamerican representation. This symbol is associated with the earth, death and the cave, as an entrance to the underworld.
There is a well-known myth which tells that reptiles are the beginning of the earth after the great flood, as referred to in sixteenth century sources. Moreover there is a close relationship between this myth and the origin of the human being in the Mesoamerican worldview: the human being is saved by a lizard, snake or turtle from the flood that emanates from its jaws. This is why there are three beings that are associated with the earth and its dual nature, such as life and death. The two intertwined snakes allude to the fertility of the earth.
The clay sculpture in Central Veracruz has great technical quality and has a naturalist style that has attracted a lot of attention due to its particular style. In other repositories there are catalogs of headless sculptures. It is unknown if these sculptures were intentionally decapitated in some iconoclastic event, or by some war or accidentally. The fragmented head of this sculpture probably belongs to those sculptures.
