tlalli (Mdz46r)

This element for an agricultural parcel (tlalli) has been carved from the compound sign for the place name, Tlacotlalpan. It is a half circle, which would not likely have been the shape of the parcel. It is circular because the artist was working to elicit the word "tlaco" (half) as well as tlalli, and a half of a tortilla or a tortilla that was folded in half, was often described as "tlaco," which seems to have evolved into the contemporary word, "taco." The left half of the circle (see below, right) is colored purple and terracotta, which is typical of representations of agricultural land. It has rows of dots and u-shapes (tipped to the left).