Restoration of a head of Mictlantecuhtli: from iconography to manufacture

Abstract

As part of the teaching-learning process, the Seminario-Taller de Restauración de Cerámica (Ceramic Restoration Seminar-Workshop STRC), Escuela Nacional de Conser-vación, Restauración y Museografía (National School for Conservation, Restoration and Museography, ENCRyM) of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Anthropology and History Institute, INAH) carried out the research of a ceramic sculpture representing the god of death, excavated during the 2010-2011 season at the archaeological site of  Tehuacán (Puebla, México). The investigation included: analysis of the artefact´s morphology, style, iconography and manufacture, which in turn led to determine its origin, technology and the creativity involved in its production. This paper describes the methodology and the results of this initiative, an example of how the academic field of restoration contributes to the interpretation of the post-classical Mesoamerican past.