Bell 900–1520 Greater Chiriquí This bell, in the form of a mammal’s head, possibly a deer or canine, is made of gold or likely a gold alloy with some copper. The resonator, which is 2 cm high, comprises the head of the animal, and its mouth is indicated by the resonator’s opening. The suspension loop, which is mm thick at its highest point and which extends from the sides of the head and projects well above it, is suggestive of the ears of the animal. Cast through the lost wax method, all of the surface details were first created in wax and then attached to the wax model that formed t

Bell 900–1520 Greater Chiriquí This bell, in the form of a mammal’s head, possibly a deer or canine, is made of gold or likely a gold alloy with some copper. The resonator, which is 2 cm high, comprises the head of the animal, and its mouth is indicated by the resonator’s opening. The suspension loop, which is mm thick at its highest point and which extends from the sides of the head and projects well above it, is suggestive of the ears of the animal. Cast through the lost wax method, all of the surface details were first created in wax and then attached to the wax model that formed the basic shape of the head. These added details include: the suspension loop, which appears to flow directly out of the head; the elliptical eyes, each with a horizontal slit at its center; a feature that suggests a nose, comprised of a strip that runs from the top of the head to the top edge of the resonator opening, incised and curling back at one end; and six short stubs that protrude from the mouth, some more well defined than others, that indicate teeth. Inside the resonator, there is a freely floating clapper, made of metal and with a dull surface. This clapper moves around the resonator producing a light sound with a certain degree of roughness, as the clapper scrapes around the relatively rough internal walls, which are approximately mm thick, based on a measurement at their edge. The clapper was either cast with the rest of the bell or fabricated separately and then added by opening and then closing the mouth through hammering. Given its form and design, the bell was likely produced between 900 and 1520 in the Greater Chiriquí archaeological region, an area that encompasses parts of eastern Costa Rica and western Panama (see Joyce 2013, fig. 1). Without archaeological provenience, it becomes more difficult to interpret how this bell was used. Given the presence of a loop, it is certainly possible that the object was attached to or suspended from m

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