The object consists of two circular plates firmly stuck together, made from stones of different colors and textures. It has a diameter of less than 10 cm and is approximately 1 cm thick. The front part is brown, with a very compact and shiny consistency, and is thinner than the gray, opaque plate behind it. We can assume that the first is fragile and for this reason it was ed to a thicker, more resistant one. The small hole near the edge indicates that the piece was designed to be hung; given its size, it may have been the pendant of a necklace. The deterioration of the front section may not have been caused by daily use, but by the environment where it was found, perhaps as part of the grave goods of a buried individual. The simplicity of the circular shape indicates that its main appeal was the brown color of the stone.
Stone carving is one of the most distinctive arts of Mesoamerica. Properties such as consistency, hardness, resistance, absorption, elasticity, transparency, shininess, texture and color, determined its use in construction, the elaboration of utilitarian instruments and ritual and luxury objects. Accessibility, and local or foreign origins also formed part of the selection process and in the cultural meaning and symbolism that were attributed to it.
The hole used to hang it was made by rubbing abrasives with a small wooden stick in a circular motion. Sand, corundum, rock crystal, topaz and emery are abrasives and are made of hard mineral particles. The plates were also rubbed with abrasives to polish them, and in some cases, make them shine.
Another interesting feature in the elaboration of this ornament is the use of adhesives. Through botanical experiments and analysis and ethnohistorical sources from the sixteenth century with plastic and textual testimonies (such as The Natural History of New Spain by Francisco Hernandez and General History of the Things of New Spain or the Florentine Codex of Friar Bernardino de Sahagun), s F. Berdan, among other researchers, have taught us that the gums from the roots and bulbs of orchids, as well as copal, pine resin and bee's wax were used to make effective glues in Mesoamerica.
According to the research, the plates of our pendant could have been ed together with resins; the combined use of copal and pine resin creates a stronger glue, whereas bee's wax helps to melt and soften them. However, they solidify quickly, so a possible solution to have more time to work would be to heat the stones.
This simple ornament is the result of meticulous manufacturing that bears witness to the age-old art of stone carving which involves scientific and empirical knowledge of the makers in of diverse materials, techniques and technology. Before a woman or man wore it in life or death as an ornament and attribute of their identity, a lot of complex knowledge had come together in its creation.
The object consists of two circular plates firmly stuck together, made from stones of different colors and textures. It has a diameter of less than 10 cm and is approximately 1 cm thick. The front part is brown, with a very compact and shiny consistency, and is thinner than the gray, opaque plate behind it. We can assume that the first is fragile and for this reason it was ed to a thicker, more resistant one. The small hole near the edge indicates that the piece was designed to be hung; given its size, it may have been the pendant of a necklace. The deterioration of the front section may not have been caused by daily use, but by the environment where it was found, perhaps as part of the grave goods of a buried individual. The simplicity of the circular shape indicates that its main appeal was the brown color of the stone.
