Aspects of Dress and Ornamentation in Coastal Oaxaca’s Formative Period

The Symbolism, Use, and Archaeological Context of Masks in Formative Period Coastal Oaxaca, Mexico

“…Though the few Middle Formative figurines from the region do include depictions of headgear and body modification (Fig. 4.A), we have no direct evidence of masks from this period (see Hepp & Rieger 2014; Urquhart 2010). One of our next indications of masking appears as a Late Formative ceramic fragment with traces of red paint from the site of Cerro de la Cruz (Fig.…”

“…This centralization of masks and masking in the hands of the elite, which appears not to have occurred in the lower Río Verde region with other anthropomorphic artefact classes such as figurines (see Hepp & Rieger 2014;Jennings 2010), provides considerable insight into the nature of Terminal Formative period authority. A similar appropriation of certain anthropomorphic artefacts (such as stone statuary) has been identified elsewhere in Formative period Mesoamerica (see Guernsey 2012, 144-60;Guernsey et al 2010).…”

“…For ancient Mesoamericans, the face was considered one of the most important characteristics of the physical body and one closely related to identity. This is well exemplified by ceramic figurines, which often have generic bodies but expressive faces framed by individualizing hairdos, jewellery and representations of body modification (Blomster 2009; Faust & Halperin 2009; Hepp & Rieger 2014; R. Joyce 1998, 148, 152–3; Marcus 2018). Masks, which transform the face of a person or object, thus allow the wearer to perform identities related to the mask's features (R. Joyce 1998; Klein 1986).…”