Aztec skull


Human skull decorated with a polychromic mosaic • Mixtec-Aztec, Mexico • 1300-1521 A.D. • Tessels of turquoise, hematite and tumbaga gold sheets • H. 14.5 cm • Private collection
Human skull decorated with a polychromic mosaic • Mixtec-Aztec, Mexico • 1300-1521 A.D. • Tessels of turquoise, hematite and tumbaga gold sheets • H. 14.5 cm • Private collection

Video CT scan : 3D opaque VRT view with a frontal clipping plane


 

The scan study of this extremely rare Aztec human skull decorated with turquoise tesserae shows that it was buried soon after death, because the ears bones were still in place when the soil filled the natural cavities of the skull. It also reveals damage to the bone, some mended by the restorer. Age at death can be determined by close observation of the teeth. 

 


Human skull decorated with a polychromic mosaic • Mixtec-Aztec, Mexico • 1300-1521 A.D. • Tessels of turquoise, hematite and tumbaga gold sheets • H. 14.5 cm • Private collection
Three perpendicular 3D opaque VRT static views of this brachycephalic skull.

Human skull decorated with a polychromic mosaic • Mixtec-Aztec, Mexico • 1300-1521 A.D. • Tessels of turquoise, hematite and tumbaga gold sheets • H. 14.5 cm • Private collection
Axial and coronal thin slices centered on the middle ears to demonstrate the persistent and location of the ear bones (pink arrows)

Human skull decorated with a polychromic mosaic • Mixtec-Aztec, Mexico • 1300-1521 A.D. • Tessels of turquoise, hematite and tumbaga gold sheets • H. 14.5 cm • Private collection
Panoramic thin slice of the maxilla to study the roots of the remaining teeth.

Video CT scan : 3D opaque VRT view


Video CT scan : 3D opaque VRT view with a frontal clipping plane


Video CT scan : 3D half opaque VRT view extracted from dual-energy scanning (80 & 140 kV)


Video CT scan : 2D MPR coronal slices