She said the vase looked “old-ish” and she suspected it to be a 20- or 30-year-old tourist reproduction of Mayan-style pottery. Dozier liked the vase anyway and decided to bring it home.

Archaeologists discovered ancient Mayan pottery in Zumpango cave near Playa del Carmen, Mexico, dating back 575 to 825 years to the Late Postclassic period.

Archaeologists discovered ancient Mayan pottery in Zumpango cave near Playa del Carmen, Mexico, dating back 575 to 825 years to the Late Postclassic period.

Entitled Painted Metaphors: Pottery and Politics of the Ancient Maya, the exhibit draws on about 150 items from the university's collection, many of which have never before been on public display.