Jade Perforator at The British Museum, London

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Perforators may have played a significant role in Olmec bloodletting rituals tied to royal accession. Although no direct depiction of these practices is found in Olmec art, self-mutilation forms the core theme in scenes portraying Mayan accession ceremonies (refer to Yaxchilan lintels). The pair of motifs on this instrument's head are linked to a supernatural fish deity and may reference the marine source of commonly used perforators such as stingray spines and sharks' teeth. This object's large size and jade composition suggest that it served primarily a symbolic function, forming part of the ritual regalia and visual lexicon of motifs reserved for Olmec ruling elite. Bloodletting is a ritualized self-mutilation involving cutting a soft body part with a sharp object like a stingray spine, barbed wire or bird beak. The collected blood drops are then burned as an offering to secure favors from the gods. Blood taken from the tongue is used in accession ceremonies and genital blood for fertility purposes. Typically, the royal king and queen performed these rituals to maximize their effect. They were also buried with self-mutilation equipment should they need it after death. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital repository of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and wish to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)