Earspools were distinctive markers of elite status in Mesoamerican societies, attesting to their social and ritual significance. This tradition, documented from the Early Preclassic period and continuing until the arrival of the Spaniards, involved bodily modification through the piercing of the earlobe, a process that, owing to the considerable size of these ornaments, required the gradual enlargement of the opening.
In the Mexica context, ear piercing was not a merely decorative act but was embedded within a ceremonial framework. According to the descriptions of Bernardino de Sahagún, this procedure was carried out during recurring festivals, specifically the Izcalli rituals held every four years, in which boys and girls underwent the practice as part of ceremonies intended to promote their growth and well-being. This ritual component suggests that it constituted a rite of passage and social integration.
The widespread distribution of this practice across diverse regions of Mesoamerica makes it possible to infer the existence of shared meanings, both in terms of identity and status. With regard to their typology, two principal forms may be distinguished: on the one hand, earspools inserted directly into the earlobe, sometimes accompanied by hanging elements; on the other, those incorporating more complex structures, such as perforated tubes that supported elaborate ornaments. The latter attained a high degree of sophistication, as evidenced by the examples associated with the ruler K'inich Janaab' Pakal, whose earspools display an elaborate and symbolically charged design.
These sumptuary objects were fashioned from diverse materials, including jade, obsidian, and rock crystal, and were decorated with inlays of metals and precious stones (gold and turquoise). Some examples featured hook-shaped forms or floral designs.