2,400-Year-Old Articulated Clay Puppets Unearthed on Ancient El Salvador Pyramid

The discovery of five ceramic figurines with movable heads sheds light on pre-Columbian ritual practices and regional connections in Central America.

Archaeologists uncovered five ceramic figurines, dating to 400 BCE, atop the largest pyramid at the San Isidro site in El Salvador.
Three of the figurines feature articulated, movable heads, allowing for dynamic facial expressions that change based on viewing angle.
The figurines, believed to have been used in rituals, were part of a rich offering deposit, alongside jade pendants, serving vessels, and a grinding stone.
The artifacts suggest San Isidro was part of a broader network of cultural and ritual exchange across Central America, challenging notions of El Salvador's isolation in ancient times.
Researchers highlight the difficulty of studying pre-Columbian El Salvador due to volcanic activity and limited archaeological excavation in the region.