It looks like a nice Tlatilco head. It feels like stone, but is pottery. A famous Mexican artist named Covarrubias 'discovered' the type site. He visted the area because of the quality of the clay and it's stone like qualities when finished, and noticed the archaeological material that the locals were finding.
It was probably made around Lake Texcoco close to Mexico City or at Tlapacoya to the south, but they were traded everywhere. They are quite a bit earlier than anything Mayan, Aztec, etc. roughly contemporary with the Olmec era.)
I don't think you need to authenticate it, it looks good and there really isn't a market to sell fakes since it's a fragment. They sell in Mexico as tourist items for a couple of dollars, I've seen them sold here for anywhere between $5 and $50 on eBay and at auctions.
Found in Northern Mexico in 1970's. Was given to me as a present. Anybody know who could authenticate this piece and give me an appraisal.
