Overview

• Five clay figurines, dating to around 400 BCE, were excavated from the San Isidro pyramid in El Salvador's Sonsonate region.
• Three larger figurines feature articulated heads designed to rotate, allowing for dynamic facial expressions depending on the viewing angle.
• The figurines are believed to have been used in ritual performances, possibly to depict mythical or real events, as part of public ceremonies.
• The discovery challenges previous assumptions of El Salvador's isolation, showing cultural ties to regions like Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.
• The artifacts, including jade pendants and pottery, suggest the San Isidro site was part of a broader network of exchange and shared traditions in ancient Central America.