“Unearthed Mystery: El Salvador’s Ancient Pyramid Reveals Eerie Clay Puppets with Disturbing Expressions!”
With ritualistic use in mind, archaeologists got to work studying the figures.
Analyzing The Mysterious Ancient Puppets
G. Prejs/PASIResearchers discovered that the smallest figurine fit inside another artifact found at the site.
Szymański and Prejs discovered that the five figurines date back to around 400 B.C.E. Their style and composition are very similar to others previously discovered in Guatemala, pointing to trade and cultural exchange between the two areas.
“This contradicts the prevailing notion about El Salvador’s cultural backwardness or isolation in the ancient times,” Szymański stated in the Threads post. “It reveals the existence of vibrant and far-reaching communities capable of exchanging ideas with remarkably distant places.”
The puppets themselves feature intriguing designs. Three of the five artifacts are nearly a foot tall, while the smaller two measure about seven inches and four inches. The three larger figurines are naked and lack any ornamentation, although the male figure has designs on his face that likely represent tattoos or scars. The smaller figurines have hair on their heads and jewelry in their ears. It is unclear if the puppets represent real people.
J. Przedwojewska-Szymańska/PASIThe male figurine’s face shows a design of tattoos or scars.
Additionally, the smallest figurine was found to fit inside a hollowed-out torso discovered at the same site. Archaeologists speculate that these artifacts may have been used to reenact a birthing scene.
J. Przedwojewska-Szymańska/PASIThe figurines have removable heads that fit into sockets.
Excavations at San Isidro are ongoing, and experts hope to discover more artifacts that elucidate the history of pre-Columbian El Salvador.
