The Intermediate Area, between modern-day Honduras and Colombia, was home to societies led by chiefs and high-ranking elders. Much of the art that is preserved from this region consists of sacred statuary and items of personal adornment. The Guanacaste-Nicoya and Caribbean Watershed cultures created fine carvings in jade. Cultures further to the south specialized in producing pendants and pectorals of gold. Many objects are decorated with representations of local fauna, anthropomorphic figures, and fantastical creatures, providing some insight into the beliefs and practices of the region’s societies.
