2400-Yr-Old Dolls With 'Dramatic Facial Expressions' Unearthed From a 'Pyramid' in El Salvador Stuns Archaeologists
Past artisans were exceptional in their work as valuable work unearthed during archaeological excavations show. These findings along with being stunning art specimens of their respective periods, also illuminate important details about the civilizations they come from. Certain artifacts unearthed recently from El Salvador reveal details about the culture of that region, stated Live Science. Findings regarding these artifacts have been published in the journal Antiquity.
The findings in question were puppets, spotted on top of a large pyramidal structure in 2022. Examinations showcase that the puppets were 2,400 years old. Researchers believe these artifacts were used during public rituals. Initially, experts thought that the puppets could have been a part of burial offerings. However, there were no human remains in the area which makes this assertion doubtful. Hence, researchers concluded that the puppets were more likely to be connected with public rituals. Five ceramic figurines were found at the site. Amongst them, four were females, while one depicted a male body.
Three puppets were around 1 foot (30 centimeters) tall, while the other two stood at 0.6 feet (18 cm) and 0.3 feet (10 cm) in height. The larger models were naked and didn't sport any accessories. The two smaller models had hair locks on their foreheads, and earspools attached to their lobes. Researchers also noted that the larger figurines had movable heads with open mouths, similar to modern-day toys. Seeing these features experts thought that these figurines could have been utilized in a theatrical context by people to convey certain messages. Researchers further stated that the puppets could have also been used to reenact important mythical or real events. The upper part of the smallest figurines was found to fit into a hollow torso figure, which made the study claim that it was used in a birth scene. Researchers want to analyze these puppets in more depth to find clues regarding lost tales they were possibly used to recreate.
The most noteworthy feature of these artifacts is the expressions carved on these puppets. They were illustrated in such a manner, that from different positions, the expression provided distinct emotions. At an eye level, the expressions implied anger, from above they looked to be grinning, while from the bottom they showcased fear. "One of the most striking features of the puppets is their dramatic facial expression, which changes depending on the angle that we look at them from," study lead author Jan Szymański, an archaeologist at the University of Warsaw, said. "This is a conscious design, perhaps meant to enhance the gamut of ritual performances the puppets could have been used in," Szymański added. Along with the five figurines, archaeologists also unearthed figurine fragments from other areas in the excavation site.
Similar puppets have also been located in Guatemala. This implies that the puppets could have been a part of a shared tradition or practice that took place during the Preclassic (2000 B.C. to A.D. 200) and Classic (A.D. 200 to 900) periods in Central America. Hence, the findings challenge the past assertion that culturally El Salvador was isolated from other parts of Central America. "This discovery contradicts the prevailing notion about El Salvador's cultural backwardness or isolation in the ancient times," Szymański said. "It reveals the existence of vibrant and far-reaching communities capable of exchanging ideas with remarkably distant places."