Avimorph, hollow head protome. The fragment has two small openings on the beak. The object has been smoothed, slurried, primed, painted and lightly polished. The primer and paint are partially eroded. The pottery has several small flakes. The fragment has a white-yellowish base colour, which was painted red-orange and black-brown on the outside of the object. The largely realistic protome represents a bird of prey with two round, red spots on its head and two upright tufts of feathers (?). According to Lothrop 1926: Nicoya polychrome ware, animal effigy vessel. Cultural significance: the objects of the Papagayo Policromo group represent the beginning of polychrome painting on a white-yellowish ground in the Gran-Nicoya region. The tradition lasted until the Policromo Tardío (1350-1520d.C.). Its decoration shows a strong Mesoamerican influence. This manifests itself in the replacement of lizard and bat themes with depictions of cats of prey and snakes. Similar protomes are known from the groups Pataky Policromo (1350-1000d.C.), Ulua Policromo (950-550d.C.) and from the Tohil-Plumbat pottery (1200-950d.C.). Some variants of the Papagayo group reached the central Mexican highlands. (Künne 2004)