The Most Ancient Representation of the Mesoamerican Plumed Serpent in Rock Art: A Critical Interpretation

Author(s): Julio Amador

Year: 2025

Summary

This is an abstract from the "The Value of Rock Art: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Current Rock Art Documentation, Research and Analysis Part II" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

<html>

We carry out a detailed iconographic study of one of the reliefs that was carved on the slopes of Cerro Chalcatzingo, in the Mexican State of Morelos, during the Middle Formative period, as well as of several paintings in caves of the State of Guerrero and painted designs on pottery of Central Mexico. We contend that they represent the most ancient versions of the plumed serpent. For their interpretation it is essential to situate them within their historical and cultural context. In order to bring about a more accurate description and interpretation we have compared the zoomorphic images of the relief and the paintings with the living animals that may have inspired them, as well as with Classic and Postclassic iconography. We also present some critical reflections about the interpretations that have been proposed by other authors. Descriptions imply interpretation, every process of perception and theoretical construction embodies a framework of thought that is determined historically and culturally. The hypotheses of several authors are dominated by a preconception that determines their process of observation and interpretation, something that we have made explicit in our critique.

<b>Keywords</b>: Rock art interpretation, the Plumed Serpent iconography, Myths and symbols of Middle Formative Mesoamerica.

</html>

Cite this Record

The Most Ancient Representation of the Mesoamerican Plumed Serpent in Rock Art: A Critical Interpretation. Julio Amador. Presented at The 90th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. 2025 ( tDAR id: 510398)

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

General
Dating Techniques • Digital Archaeology: 3D Modeling • Iconography and Art: Rock Art • Worldwide

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 52055