Researchers led by archaeologist Jan Szymanski from the University of Warsaw (Poland) have uncovered five ceramic figurines with dramatic facial expressions at the archaeological site of San Isidro in El Salvador. These artifacts date back approximately 2,400 years.
The scientists speculate that the indigenous people of the region may have used them as puppets, likely playing a key role in traditional rituals conducted atop the pyramid.
According to the researchers, three of the dolls stand about 30 centimeters tall, while the other two measure around 18 and 10 centimeters.
What Makes This Discovery Special?
All the figurines have open mouths, with some even showing their tongues. Notably, the three largest ones feature removable heads and small holes in their necks and crowns. Excavation leader Jan Szymanski quickly realized that if a string were threaded through these holes, the figurines could be manipulated like puppets. This would allow for head movements, creating the illusion that the dolls were singing, chanting, or conversing.
Radiocarbon dating and ceramic analysis confirmed that these items were likely buried at the top of the pyramid around 400 B.C., placing them in the Middle Preclassic period—an era when Mesoamerican cultures, such as the neighboring Maya, were on the brink of developing writing systems and complex hierarchical societies.
The researchers believe the figures were arranged in a ritual configuration. Study participant Barbara Arroyo suggested that the overall orientation of the dolls to the west might connect them to the symbolism of sunset and death in the Mesoamerican worldview.
The “Bolinas Figurines”
The artifacts belong to what are known as “Bolinas figurines,” as reported by Arkeonews. This style has been previously identified at various archaeological sites. Often, these dolls have been found fragmented. A significant discovery of intact movable figurines used in Maya funerary rituals occurred in 2012 at the Takalik Abaj archaeological site in Guatemala.
The dolls found there and in other locations often featured intricate decorations, skirts, and hairstyles carved from clay. Notably, one of the figurines at Takalik Abaj had a removable jade earring.
Szymanski’s team believes that the five dolls from San Isidro may have had miniature accessories, clothing made from fabric or straw, and even “wore” wigs. The lead researcher suggested that by changing their outfits, these “clay actors” could play different roles. He also noted the expressions on their faces, which seem to come alive depending on the angle from which they are viewed. While some performances involving these figurines were likely educational or entertaining (similar to modern puppet theaters), the primary purpose of the dolls was to participate in religious rituals.
To gain deeper insights into the performances and rituals associated with the dolls, as well as the puppeteers who operated them, the team is actively continuing excavations at the pyramid. Scholars believe that the San Isidro settlement may have functioned as a trade hub, facilitating the exchange of cultures, ideas, and languages both within Central America and beyond.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Antiquity.