This extraordinary basalt sculpture depicts a
standing bound prisoner. Facing the front like a
brave warrior captured during a battle, his bold
face looks straight ahead as if he is trying to
uphold his dignity. His arms are raised and
bound at his wrists, and he wears an incised
waistband, which indicates that he indeed is a
man of status and honor. The figure is sculpted
in a simple geometric manner with large incision
lines, which define facial features and physical
structures. This simplicity attributes the stone
figure qualities such as a sense of physical
presence and weight that are appropriate for the
captured but honorable man. This depiction of a
prisoner gives us a clue about the Ancient Costa
Rican cultural practice. During this period in
Costa Rica, people took trophy heads in battles
for human sacrifice to please the gods and to
maintain agricultural fertility. Because of the
strong belief in human sacrifice pleasing the
gods, conquests and wars became the fight to
obtain victims for human sacrifice. The sacrificial
subjects were to be impeccable--a person of
status, power, and importance. As a warrior
himself, he perhaps fought many battles but now
he is the victim of a sacrificial ritual. This unique
sculpture gives us clues of both sides of an
ancient cultural practice. Sculpted in a bold
manner, the sculpture does not cease to
fascinate us.
- (PF.3114)
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