Figurilla de mujer

This figurine represents a woman carved in manilkara zapota wood with the nake chest, barefooted and dressed very simply in a loincloth or skirt. The hair is plaited up the head and has shell inlays to represent the white of the eye and two frontal teeth. It has circular holes in the earlobes to hold ornaments. This splendid piece was found inside a cave in Coatepec de las Harinas, southwest of Toluca. The position of her hands holding her breast has made think some researchers that it the image of a fertility goddess. To this type of wooden figures were called cuauhximalli (“wood carved idol”) in Náhuatl.Arqlga. Bertina Olmedo Vera