The Aztec Skull

The Aztec Skull - Length: 4in, Width: 3in, Height: 3.25in.

When I acquired this skull in July 2009, it was kept in a consignment store (at Bonita, California, USA), deposed there by a private collector. It is made of Silver Obsidian and was certainly carved during the Aztec post classic period (900-1521 A.D).

Face (click on picture to magnify)

Profils and back (click on picture to magnify)

The info I got when I acquired this skull is it comes from Mexico's Central Valley (where present day Mexico city is located). Before the Spanish conquest, this valley was home to many Mesoamerican cultures, from Cuicuilco to the Aztecs. 


This skull is a representation of Mictlantecuhtli, god of death and lord of Mictlan (the underworld) in Aztec mythology. A statue with a very similar head (eyes, cheeks and teeth) is kept at the British Museum.

The Mictlantecuhtli statue at the British Museum

One side of the skull seems to have been broken in the past and then reattached. One funny thing: I was very surprised that the statue of the British Museum has nearly the same small chip above the right eye:

A small chip has appeared at nearly the same position.

The noze is triangular, as the majority we can see on this Tzompantli wall at Templo Mayor (Tenochtitlan):

Click to magnify. (photo (c) tnb)