Zacpeten, Str 602, Eccentric Chert (photo Don Rice)

Overview

Eccentric chert or “ceremonial flints” are often found in Classic period occupations, especially tombs (see Pendergast 1982: 69-127) and caches. They include a variety of shapes such as abstract forms, deities, humans, and animals. The latter may have been offerings similar to Lacandon rubber figures. The three eccentrics recovered in Late Postclassic contexts at Zacpetén were all broken and were likely taken from Late Classic deposits and reused as cache items.