Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art

About this Work

The crocodile and its relatives the caiman and alligator, which were not always differentiated, are common images represented in the Coclé culture in various media. This is not a simple, naturalistic depiction, the face, for example, appears human because it is parallel to the body, not at right angles to it, as a real crocodile’s would be. Although we do not know the crocodile’s specific significance for Coclé culture, its ferocious nature makes it a powerful symbol that may have reflected the aggressiveness of the society. The pendant's form also may have been important, for it has been carved to resemble other pendants made from whale teeth. This pendant was one of many objects found in graves at Sitio Conte, the major site in Coclé.