Nicoya Metate with Dual-Figure Support

This Nicoya metate (1000–1350 AD), a stone tool for grinding, features a central leg carved with two stacked human figures, symbolizing ancestral or shamanic authority. The rim displays a procession of stylized birds, likely toucans, representing communication between worlds. Such metates blend domestic utility with ritual significance, linking food preparation to cosmological power. This artifact highlights the integration of daily life and spiritual beliefs in ancient Nicoya culture.