The Sacrum bone of Tequixquiac is an ancient paleo-Indian sculpture carved in a

pleistocene The Pleistocene ( , often referred to as the ''Ice age'') is the geological Epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was fina ...

-era bone of a prehistoric

camelid Camelids are members of the biological family Camelidae, the only currently living family in the suborder Tylopoda. The seven extant members of this group are: dromedary camels, Bactrian camels, wild Bactrian camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, ...

. It was discovered by Mexican geologist and botanist

Mariano de la Bárcena Mariano de la Bárcena (July 22, 1842 – April 10, 1899) was a Mexican engineer, botanist, politician, and interim Governor of Jalisco. He was from Ameca, Jalisco. Biography Mariano Santiago de Jesús de la Bárcena y Ramos was born to Don José ...

in 1870 in

Tequixquiac Tequixquiac is a municipality located in the Zumpango Region of the State of Mexico in Mexico. The municipality is located north of Mexico City within the valley that connects the Valley of Mexico with the Mezquital Valley. The name comes from Na ...

, Mexico. The carving, dated around 14,000 to 7,000 B.C.E., is considered among the earliest pieces of art from the American continent. Although the original purpose of the sculpture is unknown, some scholars have said that the carving held some religious value due to the sacredness of the sacrum bone in later Mesoamerican cultures.

History

This sacrum bone was found in

. The carver was likely nomadic and hunted large animals such as mammoths and gathered fruits as evidenced by archaeological evidence found at the site. According to Bárcena, the carver likely used a sharp instrument to cut the holes. The artifact was owned privately 1895 to 1956, and is currently located in the

National Museum of Anthropology The National Museum of Anthropology ( es, Museo Nacional de Antropología, MNA) is a national museum of Mexico. It is the largest and most visited museum in Mexico. Located in the area between Paseo de la Reforma and Mahatma Gandhi Street withi ...

Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...

References

{{reflist 1870 archaeological discoveries Prehistoric art Tequixquiac Bone carvings