Earplug c. 15th century

Editor: We're looking at a 15th-century earplug, material unknown, from an anonymous artist. It's…surprisingly geometric. Quite small, clearly, and appears to be made of a dark stone. How do you interpret this work, in terms of its context? Curator: It's tempting to see this seemingly simple object through a modern lens, but consider its place within its original social hierarchy. Earplugs weren't merely functional; they were potent signifiers of status and belonging within certain Indigenous cultures, particularly in pre-colonial Mesoamerica. Who wore these, and on what occasions? These factors played a crucial role. Editor: So it wasn't just about blocking out sound? It communicated something beyond practicality? Curator: Exactly. Think about the act of adorning the body: what messages were being communicated through modifying it in this way? Whose ears were being plugged, and why? Its placement on the body makes this very intimate; the materials are locally sourced, but the level of detail might denote that the wearer of the Earplug may have held a specific position of prestige, so understanding the nuances of that symbolism within the historical record of its original context, remains. Editor: It's fascinating how such a simple object could be a marker for so many layers of cultural context. Thank you! Curator: Indeed, thinking about art objects in this manner opens up new appreciation. A reminder to look at our place as stewards within an ongoing socio-political practice, with historical understanding of such objects that remain from Indigenous cultures from the American continent and diaspora.