Culture · Late Postclassic
Aztec
1300–1521 CE, Mesoamerica
The Aztecs, or Mexica, built the empire centred on Tenochtitlan in the Basin of Mexico from about 1,300 until its fall to Spain in 1521. Their capital lies beneath Mexico City and the Templo Mayor excavations continue to yield offerings. Collectors hold small stone and clay figurines, obsidian blades, spindle whorls, Aztec black-on-orange pottery and molcajetes, and, rarely, stone sculpture; the sculpture is both heavily restricted and heavily faked.
| Dates | 1300–1521 CE |
|---|---|
| Period | Late Postclassic |
| Region | Mesoamerica |
| Areas | Basin of Mexico, Central Mexico |
| Typical objects | Figurine, Blade, Vessel, Bowl |
| Typical materials | Obsidian, Terracotta, Greenstone |
Identification
Aztec pottery is orange ware with fine black line designs, including tripod molcajete grater bowls; spindle whorls are mould-decorated. Small stone figures of deities, especially Tlaloc and Chicomecoatl, are blocky with a flat back, and mould-made clay figurines depict goddesses with elaborate headdresses. Obsidian is grey or green with prismatic blades and ear spools.
Legality
Aztec material is Mexican federal property under the 1972 law and cannot be exported; the US restricts import under the CPIA and the Pre-Columbian statute. Stone sculpture in particular is subject to intense scrutiny and museum repatriation.
Reproductions and fakes
Aztec stone sculpture is faked in volcanic stone with rotary tools and acid ageing, and 'Aztec' calendar stones and masks are a tourist industry. Clay figurines from genuine ancient moulds are indistinguishable without thermoluminescence. Obsidian blades and points are also modern products from Teotihuacan-area workshops.
Photographs
Elsewhere
- met: 307636
- Wikidata: Q111725927
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Aztec" (Culture). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/cultures/aztec. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-aztec,
title = {Aztec},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/cultures/aztec}},
year = {2026},
note = {Culture article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, wikidata, met. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.