This artifact is masterfully carved from a single piece of volcanic rock. The Costa Ricans only used stone and wood tools plus a few abrasives for carving. This dramatic trophy head is a prime example of Pre-Colombian Costa Rican religious ideology, manifested in the form of sculpted stone. In ancient Costa Rican religion, the act of human sacrifice served as a generator of agricultural fertility, and the human head was looked upon as the "fruit" of human life. Because the numbers of inhabitants in Costa Rica were increasing at this time, populations were constantly competing for the choicest, most fertile land. The resulting battles ended with the victors taking trophy heads, a ritual act that was looked upon as necessary for both agricultural fertility and the continuation of human life. Here we experience an artist's imaginative rendering of one such head. This particular example is of a man who has ribbed grooves of perfect lines that represent his hair. His eyes are opened and finely shaped giving this face an evil sinister appeal. His mouth is open and he is baring his teeth. A simple rendering of the facial features results in a face that reveals a powerful energy, one that speaks of a people's understanding of the forces of nature and the rituals essential to their fruitful continuation.