Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery atop a pyramid in San Isidro, El Salvador—a set of 2,400-year-old ceramic puppets.
According to the research team, these mysterious and expressive puppets may have played a role in ancient public rituals.
The findings, first reported in the journal Antiquity, challenge the long-held belief that early Salvadoran civilizations were culturally isolated. Instead, this discovery suggests a thriving exchange of ideas with neighboring regions.
Photo: J. Przedwojewska-Szymańska / PASI
Expressive Faces and Movable Parts
The five figurines—four female and one male—were uncovered in 2022 during an excavation led by Jan Szymański from the University of Warsaw.
Unlike many ancient artifacts, these puppets were not found in a burial site, leading experts to believe they were used in public ceremonies rather than funerary rites.
What makes these puppets especially intriguing is their changing expressions depending on the viewer’s angle. From above, they appear to be grinning, but from a straight-on view, their expressions turn angry or disdainful. From below, they look frightened—a design that may have been intentional to enhance their role in ritual storytelling or performances.
Most of the puppets are nearly a foot tall (30 cm), while the smallest measures just 10 cm.
The largest figures are depicted without clothes, while the smaller ones wear hair locks and ear ornaments.
Importantly, three of the puppets have movable heads and open mouths, resembling modern-day dolls—a strong indication that they were used for theatrical reenactments of mythology and historical events.
Photo: J. Przedwojewska-Szymańska/PASI
This is only the second time figurines of this kind have been found in their original context, and it marks the first discovery of a male figure among them.
A similar set was unearthed in 2012 in the highlands of Guatemala, but those were exclusively female and dated to the Late Middle Preclassic period (350–100 BCE).
Alongside the puppets, archaeologists also uncovered jade pendants, serving vessels, and a broken grinding stone. The jade artifacts bear a striking resemblance to those found in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, reinforcing the idea that ancient Salvadoran societies were engaged in long-distance trade and cultural exchange.
Photo: J. Przedwojewska-Szymańska / PASI
Overcoming Archaeological Challenges in El Salvador
Uncovering ancient sites in El Salvador is no easy feat.
The region has been shaped by massive volcanic eruptions, particularly from Ilopango between CE 400 and 500, which buried many settlements under thick layers of ash. Additionally, modern urbanization has limited the scope of archaeological excavations.
“Very little is known about the identities and ethnolinguistic affiliations of the creators of ancient settlements that predate the arrival of Europeans in the early 16th century,” Szymański noted.
For years, historians have underestimated the cultural complexity of ancient El Salvador, often portraying it as isolated from Mesoamerican civilizations. However, this discovery debunks that notion, revealing a rich, interconnected society with artistic and ritual traditions spanning great distances.
“This discovery contradicts the prevailing notion about El Salvador’s cultural backwardness or isolation in ancient times,” Szymański said. “It reveals the existence of vibrant and far-reaching communities capable of exchanging ideas with remarkably distant places.”
