The piece belonging to the Huasteca culture could be the representation of a young elite woman, rather than a deity, according to archaeologists.
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A group of farmers from a citrus orchard in the state of Veracruz (Mexico) found a pre-Hispanic female sculpture almost 2 meters high which could represent an elite woman rather than a deity, or even a mixture of both, reported this Friday the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
The discovery took place on January 1 in the community of Hidalgo Amajac, after which archaeologists confirmed that it is the first statue of its kind found in the Tuxpan river basin. The piece belongs to the Huasteca culture and is estimated to date from the period known as the Late Postclassic period (1425-1521 AD).
The figure, sculpted in limestone rock, measures 60 centimeters at its widest and is about 25 centimeters thick. Its good state of conservation allows us to observe its features, such as an open mouth and large eyes that must have been filled with inlays of obsidian or another stone.
Thanks to an acquaintance, I was able to obtain this video of the fabulous late postclassic Huasteca sculpture located in Hidalgo Amajac a few days ago. INAH authorities have already inspected the almost 2 m high piece. Is it a female ruler? pic.twitter.com/BvBtfMEMU5
— Tlatoani_Cuauhtemoc (@Cuauhtemoc_1521) January 9, 2021
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Ruler or goddess?
Although it is not known for sure who the statue represents, it could be an elite young woman. Is “possibly a ruler for her posture and attire, more than a deity, as almost all the female Huastec sculptures have been interpreted, which are linked to the goddess Tlazoltéotl, “said archaeologist María Eugenia Maldonado Vite.
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The piece was found near the pre-Hispanic ruins of El Tajín, but it also shows some Aztec influence. Experts noted that the style “is similar to depictions of Huastec goddesses of the earth and fertility, but with an external influence.”
The finding also reiterates the importance of women in the Huasteca political structure. “It allows to corroborate what is reflected in the ethnohistoric sources about the relevant role of women in this region cultural “, declared the general director of INAH, Diego Prieto Hernández.
The researchers hope that further analysis will shed more detail on this unique archaeological piece.
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