Ceramic | Terracotta | Fired Clay 

Caption

Import restricted since 1987 for the Cara Sucia region and since 1995 for all of El Salvador.

Section 3d of Designated List in force since 1995.

Olocuilta Orange and Santa Tecla Red Vessels
These two distinctive varieties of Late Preclassic ceramic vessels share many forms and types of decoration. Forms include a variety of bowls that may have very wide everted rims with scalloped and incised designs (in extreme cases the rims may be extended to form fish or other animal effigies when viewed from above). Bowls may also include faceted flanges. Some bowls may take the form of toad effigies. Usulután decoration (very often poorly preserved) may be present. The Santa Tecla Red variety is distinguished by its dense dark red slip, while Olocuilta Orange has a light orange slip (often with a powdery texture when slightly eroded). Santa Tecla Red may have graphite rubbed into grooves.
Dating: Late Preclassic (Chul and Caynac Ceramic Complexes).
Formal Names: Santa Tecla and Olocuilta Ceramic Groups (Sharer 1978; Demarest 1986). Please note that in these sources ‘‘Olocuilta’’ (which is the name of a Salvadoran town) was misspelled ‘‘Olocuitla’’.

Example shown: Maya miniature tripod vessel, Late Preclassic period.

For import restrictions in force from 1987, see History of Import Restrictions below.