Archaeology of Teotihuacan, Mexico
Offerings at the Feathered Serpent Pyramid: Obsidian Figurines
Obsidian figurines found at the Feathered Serpent Pyramid form a highly
unusual set. Similar figurines were reported to have been discovered at
the Sun Pyramid (Millon et al., 1965). At the Feathered Serpent Pyramid,
figurines were mainly concentrated in the central zones of the pyramid
(Graves 14 and 13). A classification of these figurines was made on the
basis of what they appear to represent. They form three major groups: anthropomorphic
figurines (type A), representations of the Feathered Serpent (type B),
and unidentified shapes (type C). Within each group, there are significant
differences in morphology, technique, size, and their spatial distribution.
Type
A consists of anthropomorphic figurines (Photo left:low left; Photo right).
Sarabia divides this category into three subgroups based on the quality
of retouching: thin figurines with high quality of retouching (type A1),
roughly retouched robust figurines (type A2), and coarsely made figurines
which appear to have been unfinished (type A3). Proportion of height to
maximum width, thickness, and weight of these eccentrics supports his classification.
Type B figurines have undulating profile bodies characteristic of representations
of feathered serpents in Teotihuacan iconography (Photo left: right). The
shape of all type B eccentrics found at the FSP is of the entire serpent
body, from its opened mouth to its tail. They vary significantly in size.
The shapes of type C figurines are clearly distinct from those previously
mentioned (Photo left: upper left). They had been called simply eccentrics
and often identified as lizards (Marquina 1922:190). They also look like
anthropomorphic representations. However, Sugiyama believes that they were
a combination of half feathered serpent and half projectile point.
Examples of Types A and B figurines were mainly concentrated in the
central grave. They were located in specific areas in Grave 14. Many of
them were found in three clusters near the center of the grave. Others
were discovered dispersed in the southwestern section.
Last Update: 8/20/2001
Saburo Sugiyama: Arizona State University, Dept. of Anthropology, Tempe,
AZ 85287
Alejandro Sarabia: National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City.
©Copyright 1996 Project Temple of Quetzalcoatl, Instituto Nacional
de Antropología e Historia, Mexico/ ASU
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Type
A consists of anthropomorphic figurines (Photo left:low left; Photo right).
Sarabia divides this category into three subgroups based on the quality
of retouching: thin figurines with high quality of retouching (type A1),
roughly retouched robust figurines (type A2), and coarsely made figurines
which appear to have been unfinished (type A3). Proportion of height to
maximum width, thickness, and weight of these eccentrics supports his classification.
Type B figurines have undulating profile bodies characteristic of representations
of feathered serpents in Teotihuacan iconography (Photo left: right). The
shape of all type B eccentrics found at the FSP is of the entire serpent
body, from its opened mouth to its tail. They vary significantly in size.
The shapes of type C figurines are clearly distinct from those previously
mentioned (Photo left: upper left). They had been called simply eccentrics
and often identified as lizards (Marquina 1922:190). They also look like
anthropomorphic representations. However, Sugiyama believes that they were
a combination of half feathered serpent and half projectile point.