Mace head depicting a jaguar, its open mouth revealing powerful fangs. The ears are raised and alert, while the eyes, set within circular cavities, intensify a fierce expression that gives the figure an immediate sense of tension, as if ready to leap upon its prey. The volumes are compact and powerful, reflecting a deliberately massive and expressive conception. The Chorotega were a powerful, culturally advanced indigenous group that migrated from Mexico to Pacific Nicaragua and Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, forming the southernmost Mesoamerican culture. Famous for intricate, hand-polished ceramics and strong agriculture, they were fierce warriors with a complex society, featuring elected leaders and a strict religious caste.
Jaguar mace head
nephrite jade
500 BCE - 500 CE
Chorotega culture
Costa Rica
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