Description:
Portrait head vessel. Top of head curves to a wide circular opening.

Label Text:
The looting of burial sites has destroyed the archaeological context of many ancient American objects, leaving scholars to rely on visual and chemical evidence. A recent study using an x-ray fluorescent spectrometer identified two different clay types on this pot, suggesting that it is either a modern pastiche of ancient fragments or a combination of new and original parts. The availability of natural clay sources and ancient molds can make it challenging to distinguish between reproductions and authentic vessels.

Tags:
pottery; vessels; containers; ancient; archaeology; men; funeral rites and ceremonies; reproductions; indigenous people

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+1975.15.17

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.