SEVEN COLIMA TOMBS: AN INTERPRETATION OF CERAMIC CONTENT*

Isabel Kelly

In the spring of 1940, I excavated seven tombs at El Manchon, immediately

south of Los Ortices, Colima. Associated ceramic material provides concrete evidence
of the sequential use of these tombs and helps clarify certain aspects of local ceramic
phases.

Tombs

The tombs at El Manchon are of the form typical of central Colima (figs. 1-
8). The roughly cylindrical shaft is a meter or less in diameter and one to two meters
deep. At lower level, to one side of its base, a chamber has been chiseled in the hard

subsoil, and there is a characteristic drop from shaft floor to chamber floor. Ordinar-
ily, a large stone slab, sometimes slightly worked, covers the opening from shaft

to chamber. Six of the seven Mancho'n tombs had such a stone, although not always did
it seal effectively.

The tombs are quite closely spaced in an irregularly shaped area, approx-
imately nine by 15 m., on a slightly sloping mesa. Distribution suggests advance

planning and contemporaneous construction of the tombs, and the sketch (fig. 1) indicates
that consistent orientation was not of interest. One special feature is a small,

tunnelllike perforation at floor level, connecting the chambers of Tombs 4 and 7.

Pertinent ceramic phases

Many years ago, I published a tentative ceramic chronology for central
Colima (Kelly [ 1944]); the suggested phases, from early to late, were Ortices,

Colima-Armerfa, and Periquillo. In general, this succession still holds but, under-

standably, there have been modifications. 1  Particularly pertinent to a discussion of

*        This paper was presented at the XLI International Congress of Americanists,
in Mexico City, September, 1974 and, through error, was programmed for publication

in conjunction with a symposium on Majolica pottery. Owing to limited funds, the latter
papers are not to be published, and the present study is being placed on record here.

1.       In recent seasons, a pre-Ortices phase, called Capacha, has been recognized
(Kelly 1972). Because its pottery is not found in the Manchon tombs, it need not be

considered here. A monograph on the Capacha material is in press, at the University

of Arizona. Its introduction includes a description of the phases now recognized, together
with available information concerning chronology.

The three phases under consideration in the present paper fall roughly within

2

the Manchon tombs is the division of the Ortices phase, as It was defined 30 years ago.
The earlier part, still called Ortices, includes an assortment of related wares (figs.

10-13), basically cream to gray, "wiped" or "shadow striped," sometimes with added
geometric ornament in rose paint, sometimes in rose, plus purple-black, resulting in
a tricolor or polychrome; also included are a rose red ware and a black on rose red
(figs. 14, 15). To this newly-defined Ortices phase belong many of the small, solid
figures which often depict action.

The latter part of the Ortices phase set up long ago now is designated as

Comala. To it belong the best-known of all Colima ceramics: handsome red vessels,
often modelled, and black on red variants (figs. 16-18). Engraved monochrome pots
(figs. 19-20) also are Comala as are many -- perhaps most -- of the large, hollow,

human and animal effigies (fig. 21), red or brown, found by the hundreds In museums

and private collections. The small, solid figurines continue from Ortices into Comala
times, but certain other kinds of solid figurines seem to be exclusively Comala
products.

In addition, there are unplaced ceramics which, for want of a better term,
have been designated as Manchon. The several vessels of this group and large and
utilitarian (figs. 22-23). Some are open-mouthed ollas, whose rims adjoin the body

directly, at a sharp angle, without intervening neck. There also are basinlike vessels
and sizeable bowls, slightly incurved. Most specimens are red to mahogany in color,

but in a few cases special surface treatment results in an apparent red on brown effect
(fig. 23), in one instance, with slightly-raised red ribbing (fig. 22). This Manch6n
pottery does not fit in the general ceramic panorama of central Colima as a whole.

Its undecorated red vessels are not very distinctive, and body sherds might well have

been included with Red, unclassified wares. But the "ribbed" aspect is unique and should
have attracted attention in any sherd lot; it is unlikely that such fragments have escaped
notice.

The impression that Manch6n pottery is extraneous to the local scene tends
to be confirmed by the finding of one restorable vessel in the dump from a rifled tomb
in the nearby Ixtlahuacan valley, of the R(o Salado drainage, and that area may prove
to be the center of Manchon wares. In any case, at one time, Tomb 4 was utilized by
people who deposited Manch6n pottery with their dead.

Finally, mention should be made of the Colima phase, which follows Comala
in time. Sherds of its wares (figs. 24-27) penetrated the chambers of several tombs
(pp. 25-26), but there is no evidence that these ever contained interments of this
phase.

the broad Mesoamerican scheme as follows: Ortices, late Preclassic; Comala,
early Classic; Colima, middle Classic.

3

Re-use of tombs

Each of the tombs at El Manchon contained sherds of the Ortices phase, and
both construction and initial utilization safely can be attributed to It. The quantity of

Ortices fragments in several chambers (fig. 9) rather suggests successive use during
that phase (p. 17).

Later -- except for Tombs 4 and 7 -- there was a half-hearted clearing of
the Ortices furniture to make way for Comala-phase burials. At the time of my

excavation, all tombs except no. 7 contained offerings and presumably burials of

Comala affiliation. Skeletal material was so deteriorated that little can be said of it.
Only in the case of Tomb 3 was it evident that two individuals accompanied by Comala
offerings were the last interments in that chamber.

The emptying of the tombs, followed by re-use, has resulted in a somewhat
puzzling distribution of sherds, and restorable and near-restorable specimens have

been assembled from fragments found in quite different tombs. On very minor scale,
this holds for Tombs 1, 2, and 7; on larger scale, for Tombs 3, 4, and 7. The

accompanying sketch (fig. 1) gives provenience chiefly in terms of shaft and of chamber
proper; for Tombs 4 and 7 are distinguished sherds found in the chamber, but at the
very entrance from the shaft. In several cases, a preponderance of fragments or a

cluster of large sherds suggests the original location of the vessel; this is shown on the
figure as a black square; otherwise, occurrence is indicated by a hollow square.

The minor overlap between tombs may be disposed of first. (1) Two fragments
of a small Ortices red on cream plate (fig. 1: no. 5105) actually join one another. One
is from Tomb 1, chamber; the other, from Tomb 2, shaft. With no clue to original

location, it may be guessed that the entire vessel once belonged to an Ortices offering
in Tomb 1; when the chamber was cleared for subsequent use, one bit was tossed out,
later to become incorporated in the fill of Tomb 2, shaft.

(2) The links between Tombs 2 and 7 are somewhat dubious (fig. 1: nos.
1138, 1143) because the sherds do not actually join the supposed companion pieces.

No. 1138 is a Comala black on red vessel; its fragments and those of another Comala
pot come from the fill of Tomb 7, chamber. They seemed not to be associated with
any interment and actually may have been thrown into the open tomb as discards.

Apparently Tomb 7 was not used for burials after the removal of its Ortices furniture
(p. 4 ). Specimen no. 1143, an unclassified ware, may have belonged originally to an
Ortices burial in Tomb 7 (p. 4).

The significant evidence concerning sequential use of chambers comes from
Tombs 3, 4 and 7, which must be considered in conjunction. Relationships are between
Tombs 3 and 7, on the one hand, and Tombs 4 and 7, on the other.

To start with Tomb 3, it contained some Ortices sherds (fig. 9), plus one

4

restorable Ortices vessel which apparently escaped destruction when the chamber was
readied for use by Comala people. Although the latter deposited their own burial

furniture In the chamber, half the sherds from the shaft were Ortices (fig. 9), with

a negligible Comala ingredient. Unless Ortices and Comala are coeval -- as I concluded
years ago, largely on the evidence of this tomb -- such distribution presents problems
in interpretation.

It may be suggested that (1) Tomb 3 was cleared of its original Ortices grave
furniture (except for one vessel, left to one side); (2) two Comala burials thereupon

were installed; (3) the stone slab at the entrance, which in this case effectively sealed
the chamber, was set in place; and for some unknown reason, (4) the shaft was left
unfilled.

About this time, Tomb 7 was cleared. Its Ortices offerings were extracted
and part of them dumped in the open shaft of Tomb 3. Owing to the well-fitting slab,
nothing recognizable as discards from Tomb 7 penetrated tne chamber of Tomb 3.

In contrast, the overlap between the pottery of Tomb 7, chamber, and Tomb 3, shaft,
is impressive (fig. 1- nos. 1136, 1139, 1141, 1142, 1145, 1146). Sherd distribution

suggests that all these specimens once were grave furniture in Tomb 7. Fragments of
three additional Ortices vessels, which come exculsively from the shaft of Tomb 3,
also may have formed part of the Ortices offering In Tomb 7 and, when the general
clearing took place, were passed to the open shaft of Tomb 3.

The same shift in location, from Tomb 7, chamber, to Tomb 3, shaft, was
shared by two unclassified vessels. One (no. 1144) is not restorable; it might be a
variant of Ortices rose red, or it might tie with Zapote rose, a ware tentatively

recognized in eastern Colima. The other (no. 1143) is an unclassified black on red,

near Ortices black on rose. Inasmuch as these stylistically unplaced vessels seem to
have constituted part of the Ortices furniture in Tomb 7, contemporaneity with that
phase is implied.

The steps outlined above seem to explain satisfactorily how the chamber of

Tomb 3, with its Ortices sherds, its one Ortices restorable pot, and its Comala-phase
furniture, came to be isolated by a shaft whose ceramic content was largely Ortices,
with a negligible Comala ingredient.

To turn to Tomb 4, it also shares restorable and near-restorable pottery

with Tomb 7, but in this case the wares are Manch6n (p. ), not Ortices. In keeping
with the now-familiar pattern, Tomb 4 evidently was used first for Ortices burials.

In time, the offerings were removed, apparently by non-local people who placed their
dead and a generous assortment of Manch6n wares in the tomb. From the chamber of
Tomb 4 came a total of ten restorable or nearly-restorable Mancho6n pots, including
those shown on figure 1 (nos. 1153, 1155, 1157).

In time, Tomb 4 was readied for use by Comala people. Three large Manch6n

5

pots (nos. 1153, 1155, 1157) at the opening from the shaft were in the way and were
pushed to one side. Some fragments were thrown out, and all chambers, save those
of Tombs 3 and 6, contained Manchon sherds. Many Manchon fragments wound up

eventually In the chamber of Tomb 7; In fact, no. 1155 Is so well represented there as
to suggest this may have been Its original location. However, my impression is that
Tomb 7 was not used for burials after Ortices days; it may have been left open, thus
inviting deposit of rubbish. Wen I cleared it, there was no entrance slab, and shaft
and chamber were filled solidly with earth and sherds.

In any case, considerable Manchon pottery remained within Tomb 4, and
the cleaning for Comala use was careless, perhaps hurried. No skeletal material
attributable to the Comala phase was evident, but on one side of the entrance to the
chamber was a cluster of entire Comala vessels; on the other side, two redware
pots, presumably also Comala, although not firmly classified. In summary, the
sequence in Tomb 4 seems clearly to be: Ortices - Manch6n - Comala.

The Colima-phase component in several of the tombs must be a post-Comala
intrusion, but quantity and distribution of the several wares are puzzling.

Tombs 1 and 2. The chambers of both tombs contained a large
number of sherds and, in both instances, about half belonged to the

Colima phase (fig. 9). The stone slab of Tomb 1 did not fit, and behind
it extraneous material worked into the chamber. The sealing of Tomb
2 was ineffective because the subsoil "vault" had collapsed behind the
stone slab.

Tombs 3 and 6. Of the seven tombs, only nos. 3 and 6 were

effectively sealed. In both, sherds were few and included no Colima-
phase wares.

Thus far, the presence (and absence) of Colima-phase intrusives seems
adequately explained, but this is not the case with the three remaining tombs.

\ Tomb 4. The vault of the chamber had given way behind the

entrance stone; strangely enough, no Colima-phase sherds came from
the chamber proper, although a few were found at the junction of
shaft and chamber. A possible explanation might be that the roof

continued intact until post-Colima times, when comparatively little
refuse of that phase remained on the surface. At the time of my
excavation, there were few surface sherds of any kind.

Tomb 5. Surprisingly, the chamber contained 34 sherds

(16.2 percent) of Colima wares. Field notes state that the entrance
seemed well sealed, but presumably the observation was faulty.

Tomb 7. The dearth of Colima-phase sherds in this tomb

is strange. Perhaps it remained open and became completely filled
with earth and discards during Comala times, thus impeding the
entry of later material.

Despite some unexplained inconsistencies in the distribution of of Colima-
phase sherds, it seems certain that none of the tombs at El Manchon ever contained
interments of that phase. Except for a sizeable fragment of a Colima incised bowl
(fig. 26) found on the chamber floor, immediately behind and below the sealing slab

of Tomb 1, Colima-phase sherds are small, and none approximates a restorable vessel.

Chronological implications

Distribution of ceramic material from the seven tombs at El Manchon

indicates: (1) sequential use of the chambers, with (2) construction and initial use during
the Ortices phase, (3) followed by clearing and subsequent installation of Comala-phase
interments. (4) The intrusive and unplaced Manchon wares from one tomb should be

coeval with Ortices, or later; or contemporary with Comala, or earlier. As a guess,
they may correspond to a time level early in the Comala phase.

In addition, (5) apparent association with an Ortices offering makes it likely
that two unplaced specimens are contemporaneous with the phase of that name.

Furthermore, (6) there is strong suggestion of a time difference within the Ortices

phase. The material removed from Tomb 7, chamber, and dumped in Tomb 3, shaft
(p. ), includes one Ortices polychrome (figs. 12, 13) and five specimens of Ortices

black on rose red (figs. 14, 15). In contrast, the bulk of the sherd material from Tomb
7 is Ortices red on cream (figs. 10, 11). The latter, then, may refer to Ortices
occupancy in times prior to the vogue for polychrome and black on rose pottery.

(7) The Colima phase sherds found in Tombs 1 and 2 represent two rather
different assemblages and should permit definition of internal time differences within
that phase.

7
Works Cited

Kelly, I.

[1944]   West Mexico and the Hohokam. In: El Norte de Mexico y el Sur

des Estados Unidos, pp. 206-222. Sociedad Mexicana de

Antropologfa. Tercera Reunioon de Mesa Redonda sobre Problemas
Antropologicos de Mexico y Centro America. Mexico, D. F.,
1943.

1972    Vasijas de Colima con Boca de Estribo. Boletfn [del] INAH 42:

26-31. Mexico, D. F., 1970.

8

Fig. 1

Figs. 2-8
Fig. 9

Figs. 10-15
Figs. 16-21
Figs. 22-23
Figs. 24-27

Figures

Tombs at El Mancho'n: ceramic relationships.

Tombs at El Manch6n: profiles. All to scale given for figure 2.
Tombs at El Manch6n: partial sherd count.
Ortices-phase wares.

Comala-phase products.
Manchon wares.

Colima-phase products.

9

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