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Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
Trophy Head
Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
© Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami. All rights reserved.

Trophy Head

Artist/Maker (Costa Rica)
Dateca. 1000-1550
Mediumbasalt
DimensionsOverall: 6 3/4 x 5 x 6 in. (17.1 x 12.7 x 15.2 cm)
ClassificationsVisual Works
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Barry Fitzmorris
Terms
    Object number2004.53.8
    On View
    Not on view
    Collections
    DescriptionThe Atlantic Watershed area is known for stunning stonework and this carved head is a stone representation of a ritual practice known as the “cult of the trophy head.” This was a custom in which prisoners were sacrificially decapitated in rituals to ensure the fertility of the ruling group’s lands. Carved as a head and neck only, this free-standing object was meant to be displayed in the burial goods of a powerful chief. Unique hair styles distinguish each trophy head rather than facial features, which are muted to signify the powerlessness of the dead.
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