Pre-Columbian Maya Jaguar Burial urn lid fragment

Object Type: Burial urn lid fragment (jaguar head)Culture: MayaRegion/Site: Quiché, GuatemalaPeriod: Late ClassicDate: c. 600–900 CEMaterial: Terracotta with traces of pigmentDimensions: 6 3/8" x 4 5/8" Description:This terracotta fragment represents the head of a jaguar, once part of the lid of a Maya burial urn. The head is hand-modeled with rounded proportions and a coarse, weathered surface. Distinct features include large rounded ears projecting outward, recessed circular eyes retaining traces of red pigment, and a broad snout with incised nostrils. The mouth is slightly open, showing modeled teeth and pronounced cheek ridges. The reddish-brown clay preserves faint remnants of red and white paint, indicating that the urn was originally polychrome. (See last image of a full-size urn, and how this piece would of been part of the lid.) Cultural Context:Burial urns were widely employed in Maya mortuary practices to house cremated remains and ritual offerings. Lids were often adorned w