This vessel decorated with striations belongs to an elite ceramic style from the northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula, produced during the eighth century A.D., and known among specialists as the Chochola style. Fragments and complete examples have been recovered in places such as Acanceh, Calcehtok, Chocholá, Dzibilchaltún, Jaina, Maxcanú, Oxkintok, Peto, Sotuta, Ticul, Uxmal and Xcalumkin. It consists of a style of recipients covered by grey, brown or dun colored engobes in many different shades, and decorated by the technique of pre-fired engraving.
It is a jaay or ‘clay basin’, whose outer sides are skillfully carved with striations. A valance or band with hieroglyphs extends along the neck of the vessel; it is an example of the so-called dedication formula, a text generally arranged in a horizontal row, which contains information about the rite of ritual activation of the recipient, the technique with which it was decorated, the shape belonging to the vessel, the substance for which was designed (usually atole or cocoa ) and the name of the owner or of the object.
In the case before us, it consists of an individual named Tik’anil Mo’ K’uk’u’m, who bore the title of sajal, as is described in the text:
TRANSCRIPTION: alay …jal yichiiy ub’aah yuxuluul ujaay sajal, yuch’ib’ Tik’an[i]l Mo’ K’uk’[u’]m
TRANSLATION: ‘there is the figure, the engraving of the clay basin of the sajal has already been made…, the cup of Tik’anil Mo’ K’uk’u’m’'.
This vessel decorated with striations belongs to an elite ceramic style from the northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula, produced during the eighth century A.D., and known among specialists as the Chochola style. Fragments and complete examples have been recovered in places such as Acanceh, Calcehtok, Chocholá, Dzibilchaltún, Jaina, Maxcanú, Oxkintok, Peto, Sotuta, Ticul, Uxmal and Xcalumkin. It consists of a style of recipients covered by grey, brown or dun colored engobes in many different shades, and decorated by the technique of pre-fired engraving.
