The excellent state of preservation of this piece corresponds to its use in a burial context. It must have come from a chamber in which there was some air, so the piece was not only kept safe from any collapse, but it also wasn't affected by the chafing of sand or other objects. This means we can properly appreciate the magnificent finish. However, it could have had another use previously, for example, in the altar of a temple.
The jug is made of ceramic but the color of the clay cannot be seen on the surface of the object because it probably received several layers of engobe which left a very solid black color. After firing, the black engobe, thick like a lacquer, was polished with some type of cloth. The semi-sunken circles that decorate the jug must have received a third coat of red engobe over the general black layer.
It is very clear that the shape of this jug is similar to the jugs used for water and wine in Mediterranean cultures. It is worth mentioning that although there were some typologies of ceramic vessels that were very characteristic of Mesoamerica, such as earthenware pots, mortars and other recipients, like three-legged vessels (both globular and with a flat base), we also found some containers that remind us of ancient hip flasks and some pots that are not substantially different from the Mediterranean style. While this type of jug is documented in the Post-Classic codices, there is no indication of it in earlier periods.
Its decoration suggests that it was used for ritual and not just utilitarian purposes. However, it is very difficult to investigate the iconography of such a simple decoration. The black background, when other colors that existed in the era could have been used such as red, yellow or the combination of both, make us think of a nocturnal context, the realm of the underworld or night. And the presence of the dots or moons could reinforce this interpretation, as the representations of the night sky in the codices often have small circles that represent stars. In some representations, the backgrounds with stars were associated with the spotted skin of a jaguar. Both extensions, the night sky and the skin of a jaguar, correspond to the same realm.
The excellent state of preservation of this piece corresponds to its use in a burial context. It must have come from a chamber in which there was some air, so the piece was not only kept safe from any collapse, but it also wasn't affected by the chafing of sand or other objects. This means we can properly appreciate the magnificent finish. However, it could have had another use previously, for example, in the altar of a temple.
