Nuttall, Zelia

1924.22.0001-0055

ARKEOLOGISK SAMLING från MEXICO.
GÅVA av Mrs. Zelia Nuttall, Cayaacan, Mexico.

1-18
Terra cotta heads of figurines found in soil from under a stratum of "tepetate" = lapilli near Tetelpa, a village situated on a slope of the Ajusco mountain in the south-western extremity of the Valley of Mexico. Note that in all these heads the pupil of the eye is indicated by a round hole. Found by Zelia Nuttall in january 1924.
These heads pertain to a race which was partly destroyed or driven from the Valey of Mexico by volcanic disturbances of great magnitude which geologists date to not less than two thousand years. Note the head-dresses which reveal luxury and taste in dress the white colouring preserved on some of the specimens and the type which differs from that of the natives of today.

19-32
4 fragments of figuriens pertaining to Class I. 10 heads of the so-called Archaic type, the characteristics of which is the way the eyes were formed by superposing a small lump of clay and punching it twice.
This type has been found widley ditributed over an area stretching fromTampico, on the Gulf of Mexico, across Mexico to the Pacific Coast and as far south as Guatemala.
These specimens were found by Mrs. Zelia Nuttall at Tetelpa under the same conditions as Class I, in ploughed fields where evidences from stratification were destroyed.

33-43
This type is distinguished by a different method of treating the eyes.
It is found mixed with Class I & II, and mayor may not be contemparments (sic) as evidence was not obtainable thus far by stratifications in undisturbed land.
11 specimens found by Mrs. Nuttall at Tetelpa.

44-53
Fragments of pottery and obsidian flakes and two heads of Type I, a figurine much water-worn found by Mrs. Nuttall during the excavations she made in January 1924 in her orchard under a portion of a lava flow dated by geologists as not more recent than 2000 years and possibly much older.
Under the lava an ancient river bed was found and at a depth of 15 ft. in the coarse gravel these specimens were found, showing evidence of great antiquity on account of the "patina" which is particularly noticeable in the obsidian flakes. Note that the heads are of Class I.
Photographs of the excavations and the stratum in which these speciemens were found will be sent by Mrs. Nuttall.