Archaeologists have unearthed five ceramic puppets from a pyramid in San Isidro, El Salvador. The figurines date back 2,400 years, and significantly, all have dramatic facial expressions.
The figures depict four women and one man, and their expressions change depending on the viewer’s perspective. At eye level, they appear angry; from above, they seem to be grinning; and from below, they look scared. Researchers believe this enhanced the puppets’ roles in rituals and storytelling.
Holes in the figurines allowed them to be manipulated with strings like marionettes. Photo: Szymanska J. & Prejs G. (2025)
Each of the small statues has small holes drilled into it so that string can pass through, suggesting that they were operated like marionettes. Part of the smallest figure fits neatly inside the hollow torso of another and was possibly used to represent birth.
All five ceramic figurines lay near the top of the pyramid, less than half a meter below its apex. Three are about 30cm tall, while the other two measure 18cm and 10cm. The larger figures are unclothed and feature movable heads with open mouths, allowing dynamic expressions during performances.
“They are clay actors…When you hold them in your hand, sometimes they even look creepy because of their vivid expressions,” Jan Szymanski, co-author of the study, told Science magazine.
Photo: Szymanska J. & Prejs G. (2025)
Researchers first discovered the puppets in 2022. At first, they thought the figurines were part of a burial offering, but the lack of human remains nearby suggested that instead, they served for public rituals or displays. Archaeologists have found similar figurines in Guatemala.
It seems that El Salvador was not as isolated as researchers have suspected until now. Similar items cropping up in various countries suggest a cultural interexchange or shared tradition among ancient Mesoamerican communities.
