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| Background | Ethnological Materials |
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS (cont.)
III.
Pre-Columbian Metals
Ceremonial, sumptuary, and funerary metal objects produced and used by
indigenous cultures from the Formative Period to A.D. 1533:
A. Axe: Made of copper, bronze, or gold. Generally flat with rounded head
and attached to a handle. Average size is 15 cm. long x 10 cm. wide. Formative
Cultures - Inca.
B. Chisel: Made of copper, bronze, silver, gold, or tumbaga. Long stem
(50 cm.) terminates at short bulbous head (10 cm.). Formative Cultures
- Inca.
C. Clamps/tweezers: Made of copper, bronze, silver, gold, or tumbaga.
Short stem (5 cm.) attaches to thin, flat heads, sometimes decorated (10
cm.). Formative Cultures - Inca.
D. Knife (tumi): Made of copper, bronze, silver, gold, or tumbaga.
Flat surface with trapezoidal or squared handle and ovaloid or half-moon
blade. Often incised, embossed, or applique decoration at base. Average
size is 50 cm. in height. Formative Cultures - Inca.
E. Crown: Made of gold or silver. Generally flat metal with animal, bird,
or geometric designs. Average size is 14 cm. in diameter. Formative Cultures
- Inca.
F. Diadem: Made of gold or silver. Generally flat with animal, bird, or
geometric designs. Average size is 35 cm. long x 45 cm. wide. Formative
Cultures - Inca.
G. Bracelet: Made of copper, bronze, silver, gold, or tumbaga. Usually
tubular form. Average size is 11 cm. in diameter. Formative Cultures -
Inca.
H. Collar: Made of copper, bronze, silver, gold, or tumbaga. Normally
a thin (4 cm.) band without clasps. Sometimes contains beads, disks, or
pendants. Formative Cultures - Inca.
I. Earring or ear plug: Made of copper, bronze, silver, gold, or tumbaga.
Generally discoid, ring shape, or pendant. Often inlaid with semi-precious
stones or shell. Average size is 4 cm. in diameter. Tiwanaku - Inca.
J. Necklace: Made of copper, silver, gold, or tumbaga. Normally a thin
(4 cm.) band without clasps. Sometimes contains beads, disks, or pendants.
Formative Cultures - Inca.
K. Nose plug (nariguera): Made of copper, silver, gold, or tumbaga.
Either ring shaped (plain, thin band) or a circular band with applique.
Average size is 3 cm. in diameter. Formative Cultures - Inca.
L. Belt: Made of copper, bronze, silver, gold, or tumbaga. Usually consists
of joined disks or chain links. Average size is one meter in length. Formative
Cultures - Inca.
M. Figurine: Made of copper, bronze, silver, gold, or tumbaga. Usually
human or animal (camelid) shape. Often found in pairs. Range in size from
miniatures (2 cm. in height) to small statuettes (50 cm. in height). Lauraques
are small (3 cm. to 7 cm.) amulet-like figurines of brass shaped like
humans. Formative Cultures - Inca.
N. Mask: Made of copper, bronze, silver, gold, or tumbaga. Usually hammered,
unadorned metal plaque that is sometimes inlaid with semi-precious stone
or shell. Motifs include felines and humans or combinations of the two.
Average size is 30 square cm.
O. Pectoral: Made of copper, silver, gold, or tumbaga. Flat surface with
squared base and curved edge. Often decorated with fine incised lines.
Average size is 70 cm. in height. Formative Cultures - Inca.
P. Sheet/plaque: Thin, hammered sheets of copper, silver, gold, or tumbaga.
Often incised or embossed. Size varies. Formative Cultures - Inca.
Q. Garment pin (tupu): Made of copper, bronze, silver, gold, or
tumbaga. A large pin with a long shaft (15 cm.) that usually terminates
with flat, discoid head (4 cm.) often embossed with design. Tiwanaku -
Inca.
IV.
Pre-Columbian Stone
Ceremonial, sumptuary, and funerary stone objects produced and used by
indigenous cultures from the Archaic period to A.D. 1533:
A. Projectile point: Made of red, black, brown, or transparent obsidian,
chert, basalt, or other semi-precious stone. Leaf-shape, with or without
stem. Average size is 7 cm. long x 3 cm. wide. Formative Cultures-Inca,
including Tropical Lowland Cultures. Locally known as Vizcachani style.
B. Axe: Made of red, black, brown or transparent obsidian, chert, basalt,
or other semi-precious stone. Leaf-shape, or rectangular shaped head,
with or without notches where handle is attached. Average size is 12 cm.
long x 6 cm. wide. Formative Cultures - Inca, including Tropical Lowland
Cultures.
C. Sword: Made of red, black, brown or transparent obsidian, chert, basalt,
or other semi-precious stone. Oblong, leaf-shaped, with or without notches
where handle is attached. Formative Cultures - Inca, including Tropical
Lowland Cultures.
D. Bead: Made of lapis lazuli, sodalite, obsidian, quartz, malachite,
green stone, or other semi-precious stone. Usually are globular with fine
aperture; pendants are also known. Average size is 1 cm., although much
larger (4 cm.) and much smaller (2 mm.) sizes are recognized. Formative
Cultures - Inca.
E. Lip plug: Made of lapis lazuli, sodalite, obsidian, quartz, malachite,
green stone, or other semi-precious stone. Normally of discoidal shape.
Average size is 2.5 cm. Formative Cultures - Inca, including Tropical
Lowland Cultures.
F. Idol/conopa/figurine: Small human or animal shaped statuettes
of turquoise, alabaster, lapis lazuli, sodalite, obsidian, quartz, malachite,
green stone, or other semi-precious stone. Exterior is finely polished.
Often found in matching pairs. Animals are usually camelids. Average size
is 5 cm. in height. Formative Cultures - Inca, including Tropical Lowland
Cultures.
G. Drinking vessel (kero): These are vase-shaped beakers, about
15 cm. in height, made from grey andesite or basalt. They often exhibit
a puma or jaguar face on the vessel exterior or other stylized geometric
design. Tiwanaku -Inca.
H. Snuff tablet: These are shallow, rectangular trays approximately 20
cm. long x 5 cm. wide x 1 cm. in height. May be constructed of andesite,
basalt, alabaster, or other semi-precious stone, or of wood. These small
trays are often carved with intricate designs and inlaid with semi-precious
stone and/or shell. Formative Cultures - Inca, including Tropical Lowland
Cultures.
I. Sculpture:
1. Tenon head: Made of sandstone, basalt, granite, volcanic tuff, or other
stone. These are carved ashlar stone heads, normally in the shapes of
masked humans, jaguars, and pumas that either serve as architectural wall
embellishments at temples and religious shrines or are portions of free-standing
monoliths (see also stelae, monolith). Small round heads average 50 square
cm., while the heads of columnar stelae average one square meter. Formative
Cultures - Inca.
2. Animal-shaped: Made of sandstone, basalt, granite, volcanic tuff, or
other stone. These are carved statues of the head and neck portions of
llamas and other animals. Because they are not supported by a base or
pedestal, they are unable to free-stand. Average size is 2 meters in height.
Mostly Formative Cultures.
3. Plaques (lapida): Made of sandstone, basalt, granite, limestone,
volcanic tuff, or other stone. These are rectangular ashlar slabs, 52
cm. long x 39 cm. wide x 3.5 cm. thick that are sculpted on both faces
with elaborate human, animal, and geometric designs. Mostly Wankarani,
Chiripa, and Formative Cultures.
4. Stelae: Made of sandstone, granite, andesite, or other stone. Includes
free-standing columnar figures, inscribed columns, and door jambs. These
are typically engraved with masked figures and other personages. Between
one and three meters in height. Formative Cultures - Inca.
5. Monolith: Free-standing columnar sandstone, granite, andesite, or other
stone. Between one and three meters in height. Formative Cultures - Inca.
J. Rock art: Made of sandstone, basalt, granite, limestone, volcanic tuff
or, other stone. These are portions of larger boulders or cave faces that
have been chiseled off. They contain simple images, either painted, carved,
or incised, of animals, humans, geometric, and abstract designs. Sizes
range between hand-size and several square meters. Formative Cultures
- Inca.
V.
Pre-Columbian Shell Figurines
Ceremonial, sumptuary, and funerary shell figurines produced and used
by indigenous cultures from the Formative period to A.D. 1533. Small human
or animal shaped statuettes of spondylus, mother-of-pearl, and/or other
shell. Exterior is finely polished. Often found in matching pairs. Animals
are usually camelids. Average size is 5 cm. in height. Formative Cultures
- Inca, including Tropical Lowland Cultures.
VI. Pre-Columbian
Mummified Human Remains
Whole or partial mummified human remains, including modified skulls. May
be wrapped in textiles. Individual limbs often contain bracelets and other
precious metal and shell objects.
VII. Pre-Columbian
Bone Objects
Ceremonial, sumptuary, and funerary bone objects produced and used by
indigenous cultures from the Formative period to A.D. 1533:
A. Punch: Spike-like implement approximately 14 cm. long and 1 cm. wide
that tapers to a pointed, sharp head. Formative Cultures - Inca, including
Tropical Lowland Cultures.
B. Needle: Vary in size from 5 cm. to 15 cm. in length. Formative Cultures
- Inca, including Tropical Lowland Cultures.
C. Hook: Semicircular implement of polished bone that often contains barb.
Approximately 2 cm. in height. Formative Cultures - Inca, including Tropical
Lowland Cultures.
D. Figurine: Usually human or animal (camelid) shape. Often found in matching
pairs. Range in size from miniatures (2 cm. in height) to small statuettes
(50 cm. in height). Formative Cultures - Inca.
E. Spindle: Long, spine-like object used in weaving to wind thread in
conjunction with a spindle whorl. Appear as elongated needles with dull
edges. Average size is 17 cm. long x 5 mm. wide. Formative Cultures -
Inca.
F. Spindle whorl: Small globular, bead-shaped, or flat circular object
that adds weight and balance to spindles used to wind thread. The whorl
attaches to the spindle via an aperture in the whorl. Often engraved on
the exterior with intricate designs. Bead size averages 2 square centimeters.
Flat disks range from 3 cm. to 7 cm. in diameter. Formative Cultures -
Inca.
G. Snuff tablet: These are shallow, rectangular trays approximately 20
cm. long x 5 cm. wide x 1 cm. in height. May be constructed of bone, stone,
or wood. These small trays are often carved with intricate designs and
inlaid with semi-precious stone and/or shell. Formative Cultures - Inca,
including Tropical Lowland Cultures.
H. Inhaler tube: Small bones that have been hollowed, polished, and decorated
on the exterior with engraved and polychrome painted designs. Average
size is 8 cm. long x 3 cm. in diameter. Formative Cultures - Inca, including
Tropical Lowland Cultures.
I. Amulet/talisman (tembeta): Can consist of a single bone engraved
on the exterior with a design or a bead, amulet, or charm made from bone
that has been polished, carved, and/or painted. Size ranges from 2 cm.
to 40 cm. Formative Cultures - Inca, including Tropical Lowland Cultures.
J. Lip plug: Either ring shaped (plain, thin band) or disk shaped. Average
size is 3 cm. in diameter. Formative Cultures - Inca, including Tropical
Lowland Cultures.
K. Flute or panpipe (zampoña): Panpipes range between 20
cm. and 120 cm.; flutes range from 20 cm. to 120 cm. Formative Cultures
- Inca, including Tropical Lowland Cultures.
VIII. Pre-Columbian
Wood Objects
Ceremonial, sumptuary, and funerary wood objects produced and used by
indigenous cultures from the Formative period to A.D. 1533:
A. Drinking vessel (kero): These are vase-shaped beakers, about
15 cm. in height. A puma or jaguar face is often modeled onto the vessel
exterior and/or the wood is carved or engraved with a stylized geometric
design. Tiwanaku -Inca.
B. Snuff tablet: Shallow, rectangular trays approximately 20 cm. long
x 5 cm. wide x 1 cm. in height. May be constructed of wood, bone, or stone.
These small trays are often carved with intricate designs and inlaid with
semi-precious stone and/or shell. Formative Cultures - Inca, including
Tropical Lowland Cultures.
C. Bowl or challador: Compartmented bowl carved from a single slab
of wood, with or without handles. Carved or engraved decoration on the
surface exterior. Size ranges from 9 cm. to 17 cm. in height.
D. Arrow shaft: Created from a solid piece of wood. Often tipped with
gold spear. Size varies from 30 cm. to 3 meters long.
E. Necklace: A thin strip (4 cm.) without clasps. Sometimes contain beads,
disks, seeds, or pendants. Formative Cultures - Inca.
F. Mask: These are created from a single slab of wood. Often carved in
the shape of feline or human face, with slits for the eyes and mouth.
Average size is 30 square cm. and 3 cm. thick. Formative Cultures - Inca,
including Tropical Lowland Cultures.
G. Digging stick: These implements most often take the form of a central
staff (one meter in height) to which an appendage is added. The central
staff is often carved. The appendage may be secured to the staff with
bands of precious metals such as gold. Inca Culture.
H. Spindle whorl: Small globular, bead-shaped, or flat circular object
that adds weight and balance to spindles used to wind thread. The whorl
attaches to the spindle via an aperture in the whorl. Often engraved on
the exterior with intricate designs. Bead size averages 2 square centimeters.
Flat disks range from 3 cm. to 7 cm. in diameter. Formative Cultures -
Inca.
IX.
Pre-Columbian Basketry
Ceremonial, sumptuary, and funerary basketry produced and used by indigenous
cultures from the Formative Period to A.D. 1533:
A. Basket: Round, square, or rectangular containers with or without handles.
May be constructed of reeds, vines, grasses, or other vegetal fibers.
Sometimes construction is combined with cloth, animal skin, or wood. Size
varies from 4 cm. to 1 meter in height. Formative Cultures - Inca, including
Tropical Lowland Cultures.
B. Casket: Square or rectangular containers with lids and handles. May
be constructed of reeds, vines, grasses, or other vegetal fibers. Sometimes
construction is combined with cloth, animal skin, or wood. Size varies
from 50 cm. to 1 meter in height. Formative Cultures - Inca, including
Tropical Lowland Cultures.
C. Headdress: These are supports for featherwork worn on the head. Can
be up to 60 cm. in length/height. Formative Cultures - Inca, including
Tropical Lowland Cultures.