Vessel in the form of a dog,

300 BCE–400 CE

The Late Formative–period cultures of western Mexico—in the present-day states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, and Michoacán—shared a tradition of burying the deceased in deep shaft tombs, often located under homes. These tombs could accommodate generations of family members: When someone died, the bones of their ancestors were moved aside to create room for the new ancestor. A great variety of ceramic objects accompanied the dead. Human figures might represent loved ones or key moments in the history of the interred. Ceramic animals might have been perceived as providing sustenance in the afterlife, or they may have been seen as eternal companions. Archaeological excavations in the region have uncovered these ceramic objects in contexts other than tombs, however, raising the likelihood that at least some “tomb sculptures” had other functions prior to their interment.

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This two-thousand-year-old ceramic dog is a testament to the enduring relationship between humans and dogs. It’s fascinating to consider that our appreciation and respect for animals are sentiments shared with our distant ancestors. While some theories suggest that these sculptures were interred in tombs as symbols of food, I prefer to view the serene posture of this figure as a depiction of companionship: the canine likeness being laid beside her entombed human to accompany them for eternity. Her peaceful sleeping posture is reminiscent of my own dog curled up in her bed. The resemblance may not be coincidental. Identifying the breed is challenging; it might depict a Xoloitzcuintli or an extinct Techichi. Yet I like to imagine it as a Chihuahua, echoing part of the ancestry of my own mixed-breed canine companion.

Peter S. Chapman, Medical Director, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Levittown, PA