64 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[bull. 64 



alligator effigy shown in figure 18. This animal is 15^ inches in length 

 from the snout to the tip of the tail. The interior is hollow, and in 

 the center of the dorsal region is a circular opening 3^ inches in diam- 

 eter, surrounded by a rim 1^ inches high and covered by a saucer- 

 Hke lid.' Within the widely opened jaws is seen a human face, hav- 

 ing at each corner of the mouth a small pottery disk, and in the ears 

 two large circular ear plugs.^ Between the eyes of the alligator 

 are two claw-like horns, 1 inch in length, each terminating in three 

 curved prongs, which point forward. Within tlie body were found 

 two small perforated beads of polished jade. The inside of the jaws is 

 colored red; the whole of the body, together with the head and limbs, 

 is colore.d brown; the forehead and cheeks of the face held between 

 the animal's jaws are colored blue; the nose, mouth, and chin, white. 



llii^alor fcjLuid in Mound No. 2. 



This is by far the largest and most carefully modeled of the pottery 

 figurmes found at Santa Rita, the smallest detail having received 

 careful attention, and the scales, claws, and teeth being separately 

 and accurately formed. ^ The fourth and deepest layer was 2 J feet 



1 These large round ear plugs seem to have been universally worn; they are found in the paintings, on 

 figurines, and on the incensarios. The plug may be funnel shaped or flat, plain, or decorated with a stud, 

 rosette, or tassel. Describing the ear ornaments worn by the Itzas, Villagutierre says: "Si bien muchos 

 de ellos rayadas las caras, y abujereadas las orejas. . . . Y que algunos Indios traian puestas, en las orejas 

 que traia, vnas Rosas de Plata, y otros las traian de Oro; y otros de Oro, y Plata." — VttLAGUTiERKE, op. 

 cit., pp. 402-403. 



Landa, speaking of the Maya women, says: "Horadavanse las orejas, para ponerse zarzilloa al modo de 

 sus maridos."— Landa, op. cit., p. 182. 



2 Figurines of animals with human heads projecting from their widely opened jaws are common in this 

 area. The turtle, alligator, tiger, shark, and snake are usually the animals selected. Thomas says of this 

 figure: "If we may judge from its use there is no doubt that the Mexican cipactli figure is a symbol of the 

 earth or underworld. The usual form of the day symbol in the Mexican codices is shown in plate Lxrv, 

 16, and more elaborately in plate lxiv, 17. " [These correspond almost exactly with some of the figurines 

 foimd.) "Asproof that It indicates the earth, or underworld, there is shown on plate 73 of the Borglan Codex 

 an individual, whose lieart has been torn from his breast, plunging downward through the open jaws of 

 the monster into the shade of the earth below. ... It is therefore more than likely that the animal indi- 

 cated by the Mexican name of the day is mythical, represented according to locality by some known 

 animal which seems to indicate best the mythical conception. Some figures evidently refer to the alligator, 

 and others apparently to the iguana; that on plates 4 and 5 of the Dresden Codex is purely mythical." 

 Thomas, Day Symbols of the Maya Year, p. 212. 



Spinden explains these part human, part animal, monsters differently. He regards the human face 

 as symbolical of the human mind contained within the animal body of the god.— A Study of Maya Art, 

 pp. 35 and 62. 



