The stone faces of Teotihuacan: Insights into their use, manufacture and sources

More than 100 stone faces attributed to Teotihuacan were examined in seven North American and European collections to gain insights into their composition, manufacture and use. They were made from four stone types: limestone, travertine, serpentinite and listwanite, none of which is found near Teotihuacan. Differences in the stone type, facial style and drilling methods suggest they were made in multiple lapidary shops. Particles incidentally collected from 18 faces were examined by analytical scanning electronmicroscopy. Many particles are consistent with a granitic sand and diatomite. Based on this evidence, we propose that the stone faces were manufactured near the source of the raw material and transported to Teotihuacan as finished goods. Long thought to be funerary objects, it is likelier that the stone faces were used in an everyday ritual, and displayed as the centerpiece of a perishable construction similar to, but larger than, the elaborately decorated ceramic incense burners known as "theater" incensarios. Published by Elsevier Ltd.