Abstract

Cross-analysis of ceramic female figurines from Santa Isabel and other Mesoamerican artifacts for the purpose of comparison with ethnohistoric chronologies of ethnic migrations, settlements and interactions in Greater Nicoya. Along with ethnicity, emphasis is placed heavily on gender in Postclassic Greater Nicoya, also explored through observation of consistencies and contradictions between archaeological and ethnohistoric data. Major topics include, grand-mother and motherhood in the archaeological record, ideology, ethnic and gender symbolism in costume and bodily decoration, and gender complementarity.