Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. This is a curved obsidian pectoral that was almost certainly a tomb offering in the Colima shaft tomb culture. Colima, located on Mexico's southwestern coast, was during this time part of the shaft tomb culture, along with neighbors to the north in Jalisco and Nayarit. In this culture, the dead were buried down shafts -- 3 to 20 meters deep -- that were dug vertically or near vertically through the volcanic tuff that makes up the geology of the region. The base of the shaft would open into one or more horizontal chambers with a low ceiling. These shafts were almost always dug beneath a dwelling, probably a family home, and seem to have been used as family mausoleums, housing the remains of many related individuals. Size: 6.25" W x 3" H (15.9 cm x 7.6 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Nikotovich collection, Denver, CO acquired before 1980

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#113101

Intact/excellent condition