Polychromed anthropomorphic figure

On the Pacific coast of western Mexico, on the current states of Guerrero, Colima, Michoacan, Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato and Sinaloa, different cultures developed apart from the great cultural centers of other Mesoamerican regions. In general, these were societies that lived in small farming villages ruled by a “cacique” or tribal chief. In these societies, the development of pottery stood out with a style and characteristics of its own. For instance, in Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit, birds, dogs, other animals and characters performing everyday activities were modeled. This is the case of the piece that is displayed here, which shows various interventions on the body (body decoration). Some of these practices, such as body painting, tattooing, scarification and body deformation, were common among the Nayarit and other American indigenous groups. They have been interpreted as a sign of identity because the way in which the body was decorated indicated if the person was a member of a particular group. These are part of the ancestral traditions of some groups to reaffirm their identity through symbols on the individuals’ bodies. In many of these societies, body designs were often generated in rituals. These designs convey messages about social and religious values of the group, and place the individual in a particular position within it. In addition to communicating a message, the body decoration also ensures success in war, hunting, fishing, driving away evils, among others. Some authors also believe its function could be to modify the appearance or express emotions.