Archaeologists in El Salvador found five rare ceramic puppets atop a pyramid structure. These artifacts, estimated to be 2,400 years old, were likely used in public rituals to depict well-known events, either mythical or real, suggesting cultural ties between El Salvador's ancient societies and their Central American neighbors.
The puppets vary in size, with three approximately a foot tall and two smaller ones measuring about 10 cm and 18 cm. Notably, these figurines bear expressions that change depending on the angle from which they are viewed. "At eye-level, the puppets appear angry; from above, they appear to be grinning; from below, they look scared," said Jan Szymanski, co-author of the study from the University of Warsaw in Poland, according to The Independent.
The discovery of these puppets at the highest point of the site's pyramid has intrigued researchers about their intended purpose, especially given the absence of human remains at the site. The dolls were primarily used for public rituals at the pyramid’s peak, suggesting they might have been orchestrated in a kind of theatrical performance to convey stories of events, mythical or real.
"They are clay actors... When you hold them in your hand, sometimes they even look creepy because of their vivid expressions," said Szymanski.
The ceramic puppets hold additional archaeological significance as only the second set of such figurines discovered at their original location. Identifying whether these figures represented specific individuals or historical figures remains a challenge, compounded by geological upheavals such as the massive volcanic eruption between 400 and 500 CE that devastated the region. The eruption released volcanic gases and ash ten times greater than the infamous Vesuvius eruption.
"Because of the devastation caused by the volcano, as well as the region's high population density today, which limits archaeological digs, very little is known about the identities and ethnolinguistic affiliations of the creators of ancient settlements that predate the arrival of Europeans in the early 16th century," said Szymanski.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.