Nayarit is one of the modern states in Mexico, located in the west-central region bordering the Pacific Ocean. Archaeologists refer to the culture that flourished there in ancient times by its modern name since very little information is known about the people themselves. In comparison with the high civilizations of the Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs, the Nayarit culture - and other West Mexican sites such as Colima, Jalisco, and Mezcala - remains shadowed in relative obscurity. The geography of the area discouraged contact with the rest of Mesoamerica, where more developed civilizations flourished. Because of the lack of similarities between these societies and those further east, archaeologists have postulated that West Mexico was comprised of many small political and social units, in contrast to the large eastern empires. Yet, while we know very little about the social and political organization of West Mexico, the objects that the people left behind give us insight into their daily lives. Artifacts of great subtlety and craftsmanship were found in shaft tombs across the region that attest to the skill of their makers. (A shaft tomb is a series of narrow burial chambers, located 3'-18' below ground, where multiple bodies were laid to rest along with large numbers of clay figures and pottery.) Nayarit statuary tends to be somewhat crude compared to similar Jalisco or Colima pieces, yet it features a keen attention to detail. This seated figure, who appears strong and proud even today, is a sizable and impressive example of the art from this region.

AGE: 250 B.C. to 250 A.D.

CONDITION: Intact, with no repairs, and nicely burnished. Quite heavy for the type -- this example is unusually dense.