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Digital Object 969
Description:
Hammered gold discoidal pectoral, embossed with the frontal representation of the face of a supernatural being with features of a mythical crocodile. It has two suspension holes on either side of the nose for fastening or hanging the object. The face has a wide, prominent nose with unmarked nostrils and round eyes. The fleshy mouth shows two rows of zigzagged teeth and below it hangs a wide, slightly bifurcated tongue. From the area between the eyes, the nose, and the base of the forehead, there are two ridges that are curled at the ends which delimit the head and form the oval of the face, marking the cheekbones. The design is framed with a band of 13 concentric circles. The icon is the same as one of the pectorals of the main individual of tomb T2 (ID 527, registration no. 9266), and its expression is practically identical, although with a greater simplification of details due to its much smaller size. Estilo Conte.
MG

The pectoral is part of a group consisting of three pectorals with registration numbers 9140 and 9128; four cuffs (9142, 9144, 9143 and 9130); two wooden ear rods (9145, 9146 and 9147); and a necklace of small green beads (9129). All these miniature grave goods were found in an articulated anatomical position although no bone remains were found. It is believed that this is due to the fact that the human bones of children, with hardly any calcium, and the environmental context in which the body was deposited—a high PH of the earth matrix together with the oscillation of seasonal humidity—made the organic remains of the burial disappear, with only the grave goods being conserved. It may also be the burial goods of a substitute artifact representing an infant.
JM
Date of field recording:
 
27/03/2011
Excavation campaign:
 
2011
Record type:
 
Metal artifacts
Context-based browsing of El Caño repository
Archaeological site:
 
El Caño
Operation:
 
Operation 1
Stratigraphic group:
 
Tomb 2
Stratigraphic unit type:
 
Interment-offering
Stratigraphic unit (finds):
 
128
Individual´s funerary attire:
 
I20
Calibrated Age Range:
 
Cal AD 900 to 1020 (Cal BP 1050 to 930)
Finds-based browsing of El Caño repository
Artifacts
Metal artifacts:
 
Breastplate
Measurements
Dimension 1:
 
height mm
=:
 
65
Dimension 2:
 
width mm
=:
 
67
Weight:
 
g
=:
 
3.4
Digital Object 969
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