COLIMA CEREMONIAL FLUTE

Western Mexico, C.300 BC-250AD. Brown polished terra cotta, 12 3/8 length. The mouthpiece modeled as an animal head with four pairs of projections behind, perhaps depicting a sea serpent. A little encrustation but about excellent. A few examples are recorded but none with this zoomorphic motif. Of the little that is known of ancient Colima culture, their flare for imagery in terra cotta stands out. It is likely that, as with their contemporaries, these ceremonial instruments provided the accompaniment for human sacrifices which were essential for appeasement of the gods

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