Pair of Carved Long Bones

Exploring the Early Americas The Jay I. Kislak Collection

Pre-Contact America | Explorations and Encounters | Aftermath of the Encounter

Urban Landscapes | Ritual, Ceremonies, and Celebrations | Language and Context | Recording History | The Heavens and Time

Mexico, Northern Veracruz (Huastec region).
Aztec, AD 1200–1500. Carved and polished bone.
Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (33.5)

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Judging by other ritual bone objects, these are probably jaguar bones. The longer bone piece depicts the profile of warriors with staffs, with a profile serpent on the bottom. The smaller bone also shows a warrior, with the lower four panels featuring the penis perforation ritual.