In addition to metallurgy, the Tolita present us with a profusion of ceramics documenting a human presence on the island, where rituals were part of everyday life. There are abundant examples of pieces showing men and women with highly decorated facial features, intentionally deformed craniums whose faces express pain or pleasure, and signs of ageing and sickness. We see faces with bulging cheeks depicting the custom of chewing coca, and family or erotic scenes that share space with representations of a ceremonial nature, such as felines, serpents, lizards, mythic beings, and deities, used for religious rituals.
Containers for domestic use, such as pots and plates complemented with bottles with simple or double mouths, and both simple and richly decorated ceramics, testify to the vitality of the Tolita culture, in which men and women expressed their religious and mythical beliefs with symbols using highly sophisticated artistic techniques.
|
