THE ARCHAIC HORIZON 53 
developed into a rather special domestic breed. Snakes 
are sometimes shown. We miss entirely the characteris- 
tic Mexican gods such as Tlaloe and Ehecatl. We can 
find no evidence that human sacrifice was practised. 
The presence of human figurines in graves has already 
been mentioned. The nude female figurine in a sitting 
or standing position has an unbroken distribution from 
Mexico into South America and it is not unlikely the 
primitive agriculturists associated it with fertility and 
used it as an amulet to secure good crops. 
Archaic Pottery. The ordinary pottery of the 
Archaic Period from Mexico and Central America is 
Fig. 17. Typical Tripod Vessels of the Archaic Period, from 
Morelos, Mexico. 
heavy and simple in shape. The globular bowl with a 
constricted neck is a common form as well as wide- 
mouthed bowls with or without tripod supports. Lugs 
and handles are very common. When plain, the tripods 
are large, hollow and rounded, with a perforation on the 
under side, but they are often modified into faces and 
feet. Many vessels are decorated by the addition of 
faces enabling us to make a direct connection with the 
figures in clay already described. 
In fact the decoration of pottery of this early period 
is predominantly in relief. Paint is sparingly used and 
then only in the simplest geometric fashion. There is 
a general lack of conventionalized motives presenting 
animals and other natural forms in highly modified 
ways. In later ages the painted decoration is much 
