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HOME :
Pre-Columbian Art :
Terracotta Trophy Heads : Guanacaste-Nicoya Terracotta Trophy Head
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Guanacaste-Nicoya Terracotta Trophy Head - PF.3494
Origin: Guanacaste, Nicoya, Costa Rica
Circa: 500
AD
to 800
AD
Dimensions:
6.75" (17.1cm) high
Collection: Pre-Columbian
Style: Guanacaste-Nicoya
Medium: Terracotta
$9,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
The face on this vessel is powerful and has a
story to tell. The agonized expression and the
rigid mouth suggest this is a sacrificial victim.
The black shapes on the face are very geometric,
perhaps another symbol of sacrifice. The power
of this vessel is apparent in the use of bold color.
The orange surrounding the mouth shows this
person's pain in trying to speak. The patterns
around the eyes, and on the face may have been
part of the sacrificial ritual. During this period
(500-800AD), Nicoya was defined as a buffer
zone between Mesoamerica and tropical-forest
cultures of the southern regions. There were
sporadic intergroup resource competition and
warfare. Head hunting and sacrifice of captives
was common and may have been indicative of
population pressure or foreign intruders.
Occasionally, a strong leader arose to form
political control and defensive strategy. The
leader organized several centers into an alliance
for brief periods. Such a powerful leader may
have once possessed this vessel in remembrance
of his victorious wars.
- (PF.3494)
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