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201 N o t e s o f M i d d l e A m e r i c a n A r c h a e o l o g y a n d E t h n o l o g y Carnegie Institution of Washington Division of Historical Research No. 53 July 18, 1945 A Pyrite mirror from queretaro, mexico Gordon F. Ekholm The whole gives the appearance of two separate plaques skillfully smoothed and cemented together, but such would have been an almost impossible feat without the use of modern tools. That this could not have been the method of manufacture is further confirmed by the fact that the line of puncture is slightly wavy, indicating, apparently, that such was the surface of the original slate mass before the pyrite was deposited against it. The slate layer varies from 2 to 3 mm in thickness; the pyrite layer from 3 to 5 mm. The principal features of the disc can be seen in the illustration. There are twenty holes near the periphery, which, on the mirror aide, are definitely triangular but on the reverse aide approach circular form. There are also two pairs of biconically drilled holes, supposedly for the attachment of the mirror by the use of cords. They are strangely placed diagonally to the axes of the design. The edge of the reverse or decorated side is evenly beveled; there is a lesser notched beveling as the mirror aide. The pyrite surface is slightly convex, with most of the curvature near the edges, the central area being relatively flat. The central area has a higher polish than have the portions near the edge, but this seems to be largely a matter of better preservation. Because of its slight disintegration and because it is partially covered with a brown stain, the mirror gives no reflection at the present time. The reverse or slate surface, which is flat and smooth, bears an incised design. The carving is somewhat crude, done by a hand not entirely under control, as seen in the irregular curves and the places The pyrite mirror described herein holds considerable interest because of the technique of manufacture and the nature of the carved design on its reverse side (Fig. 53.1). It was acquired by the American Museum of Natural History (Cat. no. 30.1-618) in 1931 along with a small collection of other objects. Information as to its exact place of origin is lacking, but we can rely with some certainty on the testimony of the collector that it was found is an excavation at as archaeological site near the town of Tequiaquiapan in the southeastern portion of the state of Queretaro. The mirror is a round plaque, 15 cm in diameter and 7 mm in thickness at the center. The reflecting surface is a consolidated mass of small pyrite crystals approximately 1 mm in size, whereas the back is a hard and fine-grained black slate that bears a carved design. A particularly interesting feature is the fact that, contrary to most disc mirrors from the New World, the pyrite surface is not composed of a mosaic cemented on a stone base. The entire object is cut from a single piece of material, the slate and the pyrite being naturally juxtaposed layers. Supposedly a block of material was found which was composed in part of slate and in part of pyrite, and this was cut to form a disc with the different substances on its two sides. The slate and pyrite layers are quite distinctive materials, differing in color and texture, and are divided sharply in a generally straight line to be sees running around the edge of the playas. The two substances adhere tightly except at one place on the edge where they have become slightly separated. gordon f. eKHolM 202 where the tool has slipped. There is a lack of finish, for the tool-marks in the cut-away areas have not been smoothed down. It will be noted also that the design is not well adjusted to the circle of perfora53 .1. Pyrite mirror from Queretaro, Mexico: (a) reverse or slate side; (b) pyrite or mirror surface. tions, which were probably made after the carving of the surface had been completed. The design shows two individuals, apparently male and female, facing each other and standing on a decorated platform. They are holding between them what appears to be a pottery vessel from which either a plant...

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