Pre-Columbian Teotihuacan Style Tecali Mask from Mexico, ca. 400-600 BCE. Tecali stone is actually a type of alabaster, a fine-grained, translucent variety of gypsum. Alabaster is a relatively soft and easily worked stone that has been used for centuries for carving and sculpture. The Teotihuacan culture, which flourished in ancient Mexico around the first century BCE, used Tecali Alabaster for creating masks, sculptures, and other decorative objects. The use of Tecali Alabaster in Teotihuacan art is significant because it shows the skill and technical expertise of the ancient artisans. The translucent nature of the stone allowed them to create detailed and expressive carvings, and the softness of the stone made it relatively easy to work with. The Teotihuacan Tecali Alabaster masks are considered masterpieces of ancient art and are highly valued by collectors and museums. 8.2" in height.