Fragment of a Hacha c. 800

This fragment of a hacha was carved by the Veracruz people of Mexico. The form of this stone axe head is not sharp, as it was not meant for practical use. Rather, it was used as a ritual object. The scroll shape is common throughout Mesoamerican art; it is a symbol that represents speech, breath, and wind. Here, this motif accentuates the figure’s head, a site of thought, memory, and communication. This symbol has its origins in even earlier Olmec art, in which rulers are depicted with scrolls emanating from their mouths. The Veracruz people adopted this tradition, linking themselves to the authority of their predecessors. The scroll is a potent symbol, demonstrating how breath and communication are associated with the head, and the power granted to those who speak. This piece illustrates how cultural memory works—not in a linear progression, but in a cyclical manner, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across time.