Posts tagged Pre-Columbian
Spiro Mounds Bone Bead Necklace

Today, the Spiro Mounds represent one of the wealthiest and influential centers of the pre-Columbian era. This beaded necklace tells a story of fashion, trade, and wealth in this sophisticated culture. This necklace is made from a 34-inch strand of hollow bird bone beads and found at the Spiro Mounds in Leflore County, Oklahoma. They are estimated to be used within 900 A.D. to 1450 A.D.

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Maya Eccentrics

The Mayan civilization is mostly associated with their cultural advances in mathematics, architecture, astronomy, visual arts, and the Mayan calendar inspired by their philosophy of life- nothing has ever been born and nothing has ever died. Of course, this encouraged their beliefs in gods and the cosmos. The complexity of their beliefs is displayed beautifully by this specialized group of stone carvings called “eccentrics” found near Melchor de Mencos, in Guatemala.


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Andean Woven Coca Bags

Explore intricately woven bags that hold a special significance in Andean culture, both in the past and present. They are traditionally called Chuspas, but widely known as Coca bags because of their use. Coca bags existed in ancient Andean societies to carry leaves from the coca plant, which were used for medicinal and ritualistic purposes.

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Colima Dogs


Archaeologists estimate that dogs have been domesticated for over 10,000 years, with evidence in the archaeological record indicating domesticated dogs have existed in the southwestern region of Mexico for at least 3,000 years. Ceramic effigies, or representations, of Xoloitzcuintle, more commonly referred to as Xolo, or Mexican Hairless, have been found across the region.

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