A recent archaeological discovery in El Salvador could change the understanding of rituals and performances in Mesoamerica during the Middle Preclassic Period. A team of researchers, led by archaeologist Jan Szymański from the University of Warsaw, discovered five clay figures atop a pyramid at the San Isidro archaeological site. These figures, which feature striking facial features with open mouths and, in some cases, visible tongues, have garnered great interest due to their peculiar design: three of them have detachable heads with small holes in the neck and at the top of the head.
After a detailed analysis, Szymański noticed that by threading a string through these holes, the heads could swivel from side to side, suggesting that the figures may have been used as animated puppets capable of simulating singing, speech, or invocation rituals.
Art historian Julia Guernsey from the University of Texas at Austin described this theory as highly provocative. According to radiocarbon dating and ceramic analysis, the figures were likely buried in the pyramid’s dome around 400 B.C.
During this time, Mesoamerican civilizations, including the nearby Maya, were in a transitional phase, developing writing systems and hierarchical government structures. However, San Isidro appears to have maintained a more egalitarian organization, raising questions about the role of these figures in their cultural context.
The figures belong to a style known as “Bolinas figures,” which have been previously found at various archaeological sites, though mostly fragmented or discarded in ancient refuse piles. A significant discovery of intact figures occurred in 2012 at Tak’alik Ab’aj, a Maya site in Guatemala. In that context, figurines with movable heads were found as part of a funerary offering, suggesting they may have been part of a symbolic representation of a journey to the underworld.
The San Isidro discovery could shed light on the rituals of these pre-Hispanic societies. The figures, ranging from 10 to 30 centimeters in height, were arranged in an apparent ritual configuration. Although time and the action of tree roots may have altered their original position, archaeologist Barbara Arroyo notes that their general westward orientation could link them to the symbolism of sunset and death in the Mesoamerican worldview.
Another fascinating aspect of the discovery is that these figures may have been used in multiple contexts. Some figurines from Tak’alik Ab’aj feature decorative details such as incised skirts in the clay, carved hairstyles, and even a detachable jade ear ornament.
These elements lead researchers to believe that the San Isidro figures may have been adorned with fabric or straw clothing, miniature jewelry, and wigs, reinforcing their role in ceremonial performances.
Szymański suggests that changing the attire could have allowed these figures to represent different characters in various enactments, making them “clay actors.” He also highlights the visual effect of the figurines’ expressions, which appear to come to life depending on the viewing angle. Sometimes, when you hold them in your hand, their expression is so vivid that it looks like they’re about to move, the archaeologist remarks.
While some of these performances may have had an educational or recreational purpose, similar to modern puppet theaters, the final placement of the figures atop a pyramid suggests that they also played a crucial role in religious ceremonies. They may have been used in various performances before being deposited in a sacred context, Szymański notes.
To better understand how these figures were used in rituals and to learn more about the puppeteers who manipulated them, Szymański’s team will continue excavating at San Isidro. According to their studies, this site may have functioned as a trading hub where diverse cultures, languages, and ideas from Central America and beyond converged.
Unlike neighboring Maya societies, which were establishing monarchies, San Isidro appears to have followed a more communal organizational model. It is possible that the San Isidro puppets were used to represent different voices within this egalitarian society, reflecting its linguistic and cultural diversity.
SOURCES
Lizzie Wade, ‘Creepy’ puppets may have starred in rituals at ancient Central American pyramid.
Szymański J, Prejs G. Of puppets and puppeteers: Preclassic clay figurines from San Isidro, El Salvador. Antiquity. Published online 2025:1-17. doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.37
- Share on:
Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
New Findings at the Antikythera Shipwreck Reveal Ancient Shipbuilding Techniques
The 2025 excavation campaign at the famous Antikythera shipwreck, which took place between May 23 and June 20, has yielded new and interesting discoveries that provide insight into key aspects…
A 27,000-Year-Old Figurine with an Exceptionally Detailed Face Rewrites the History of Prehistoric Art
In 2021, during excavations at the Amiens-Renancourt site in northern France, a group of archaeologists discovered something extraordinary: the carved head of a woman with a detailed face and an…
How Fake Coins Kept the Roman Empire’s Economy Alive in Its Decline
A recent study published in the journal Vegueta reveals how counterfeit coins were key to sustaining the economy in the final centuries of the Roman Empire. The research, focused on…
Earth Could Be Inside a Gigantic and Unsettling Cosmic Void a Billion Light-Years Across
A team of astronomers has presented a theory suggesting that Earth and our entire galaxy, the Milky Way, may be located within a massive cosmic void—a region of the universe…
Massive Sand Structures Discovered Beneath the North Sea Challenge Geological Principles
A team of scientists from the University of Manchester has discovered hundreds of enormous sand structures beneath the seabed of the North Sea that appear to contradict fundamental principles of…
Scipio’s Volunteer Veterans: The Secret Behind Rome’s Military Success in the Eastern Mediterranean
A recent study by historian Connor Beattie, published in the Journal of Ancient History, reveals a little-known but crucial aspect of the Roman army during the Republic: the volunteer veterans…
“Adyton” of the Oldest Temple in Selinunte Discovered, Alongside Over 300 Objects Linked to Foundational Female Cults
Excavations at the Archaeological Park of the ancient city of Selinunte in southwestern Sicily have unearthed the adyton of Temple R, the oldest sacred building of the Greek colony, which…
Tombs with Hieroglyphic Inscriptions and a 2-Meter Sarcophagus Discovered in the Necropolis of the Aga Khan Mausoleum in Aswan
An Egyptian-Italian archaeological team has announced the discovery of several rock-cut tombs dating to the Greek and Roman periods, located in the necropolis on the west bank of the Nile…
The Oldest Greek Marble Altar in the Western Mediterranean Discovered at a Tartessian Site in Spain
The team from the Institute of Archaeology of Mérida (IAM, CSIC-Government of Extremadura), led by Esther Rodríguez González and Sebastián Celestino Pérez, presented this Thursday the results of the latest…
The Story of a Mysterious Copper Age Baby Discovered in a Prehistoric Well Is Uncovered
In a well near the Italian city of Faenza, close to Ravenna, archaeologists found the remains of a baby who lived during the Copper Age, approximately 4,000 to 5,000 years…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
