WORK OF ARTSome scholars such as Geoffrey Mc-
Cafferty, professor emeritus of archae-
ology at the University of Calgary, have
different interpretations. He believes the
pectoral depicts Lady 3 Flint because the
serpent headdress is the same one she
wears in one of the codices, which leads
him to think the pectoral was worn by her
descendant known as Lady 4 Rabbit, who
“would have worn it as an heirloom to le-
gitimize her ancestry.”
Today the pectoral and other treasures
from Tomb 7 of Monte Albán are housed
at the Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca, in
Santo Domingo, Mexico.
—Braden PhillipsOne of his most stunning finds was a
formidable golden pectoral (opposite),
which Caso described as “[p]erhaps the
most beautiful Mexican gold figure we
know of.” Dazzling to behold, the pecto-
ral also contains important information
about Mixtec culture and the complex
symbolic language in their art.Questions of Identity
The Mixtec codices, another major dis-
covery of Caso’s from Monte Albán, have
provided important context for the pec-
toral and for determining whom it might
depict. Written on deerskin, the codi-
ces narrate the Mixtec origin myths and
complicated genealogy of their rulers,
priests, and warriors. Along with the
Maya dynastic record, they provide the
only known documentary history of
the pre-Columbian New World.
Caso’s studies of the Mixtec calen-
dar systems allowed him to interpret the
artwork on the pectoral’s shoulders. He
concluded that each piece correspond-
ed to different calendars, that could be
cross-referenced with calendar reform
in the codices. Using this information,
Caso believed the pectoral to depict a
ruler known as Lord 5 Lizard. (A person’s
name and number is set by their date of
birth in the Mixtec calendar.)The rich pre-Columbian past of Mexico’s
state of Oaxaca was largely hidden un-
til archaeologist Alfonso Caso began his
work there in 1930. Focusing on the an-
cient mountaintop city of Monte Albán,
Caso determined that the site had served
as the capital of the Zapotec empire for
more than 1,000 years, but by the year
700 it had fallen into decline.
The Zapotec abandoned the city, and
their successors, the Mixtec, came to
power by 900. They would rule until 1521,
after which date the Spanish extended
their conquest of the region.
During their occupation, the Mixtec
reused Monte Albán’s Zapotec structures,
including royal tombs. Caso uncovered
20 buildings and 176 tombs at the site.
In 1932, after tunneling through a wall of
an elite residence, he discovered Tomb 7,
considered by many to be the most spec-
tacular find ever made in Mesoamerica.
The tomb dates to about 1330. It con-
tained more than 500 objects, including
more than 120 gold ornaments, whose
craftsmanship revealed the Mixtec as
the most skilled goldsmiths of central
and southern Mexico. They excelled in
“lost-wax” casting, producing ornamen-
tal objects such as pectorals (chest or-
naments hung from the neck), pendants,
necklaces, and other items.Mixtec Masterpiece
MONTE ALBÁN PECTORALA stunning pectoral, worn around the neck by a Mixtec dignitary, was one of more
than 120 gold pieces found in a tomb in southern Mexico’s ancient city of Monte
Albán. The figure’s complexity has led to several different symbolic interpretations.a mixtec warrior-ruler figurine (right) dates to between the 12th and 14th centuries.
It was discovered in Tehuantepec in 1870 during the excavation of a private residence.
The object, made using the lost-wax technique, signals the owner’s noble rank. Along
with a shield and a serpent-headed implement, he has a pectoral, in the form of a severed
head with three bells, hanging from his lip plug. British Museum, London
RMN-GRAND PALAISNATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HISTORY 17