Guanacaste–Nicoya Crocodilian Leg Detail (detail)
2018 © Maxim Tabachnik
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Guanacaste–Nicoya Crocodilian Leg Detail (detail)

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This sculpted detail from a tripod vessel leg (500–1350) depicts a stylized crocodile, identifiable by its ridged back and circular eyes. Revered in the Guanacaste–Nicoya culture, crocodiles embodied both terrestrial power and underworld forces, linking ritual objects to cycles of life, death, and regeneration.