Seated elder

This large-scale ceramic effigy likely represents a community leader or other high-status individual. His advanced age is indicated by facial wrinkles, loose skin beneath the eyes, and missing teeth. He sits on a stool–a symbol of authority—and wears a collar and bracelets. Additional ornaments, perhaps of gold, may have been suspended from perforations in the nose, ears, and nipples. The figure’s spine resembles that of an iguana, perhaps underscoring a link with the powerful natural world.