Feline fangs, rather than human teeth, suggest that this figure is either supernatural or in contact with deities.
South America before European colonization
The Kingdom of Chimor was conquered by the Inka, but impressive adobe walls survive in their capital, Chan Chan.
Introduction to the Chimú culture
Deserts, jungles, and mountains—the architectural and artistic practices of this region were broad and varied.
Introduction to Andean Cultures
The Inka empire spanned from Ecuador to Chile, and was connected by a road system used for official business only.
Introduction to the Inka
Although this vessel depicts a royal Inka couple, it was produced after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.
Keru Vessel
These receptacles held liquid offerings, the surface of the liquid were eyes that saw into the underworld.
Inka stone vessels
For centuries Europeans were dazzled by the idea of a lost city of gold in South America… but did it really exist?
Ancient Colombian goldmaking
These images carved into the desert floor cannot be truly appreciated from the ground—so who were they made for?
Nasca Geoglyphs
Multiple points of view are combined in the decoration of this vessel, tip it and see!
Feline-Head Bottle
Sites for ritual activity, ushnus occupied the best real estate, chosen for their views of snow-capped mountains.
What is an Inka ushnu?
Not one unified political entity, the Moche were independent groups who shared common ideas—and artistic forms.
Moche culture, an introduction
Thousands of ceramic bottles were produced by Moche ceramicists, and many multiples were made using molds.
Moche Portrait Head Bottle
Made of gold and inlaid stone, these earflares were probably worn for ceremonies rather than daily.
Pair of Earflares, Winged Messengers
The Inkas dominated the landscape, and littered it with symbols of their presence—in particular these platforms.
Inka ushnus: landscape, site and symbol in ...
This object, worn by a child, represents the continuity a way of life that has existed for thousands of years.
Kayapó Headdress: a glimpse of life in ...
We don’t know what the makers of this figure called her, but we can tell that she is at once human and animal.
Doe Shaman Effigy
This bat-human hybrid preceded the comic version by over a thousand years—move over, Bruce Wayne.
Mirror Pendant in the Form of a ...
Seemingly made completely of feathers, this headdress comes from one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
Mundurukú Headdress: a glimpse of life in ...
Andean cultures had long valued textiles, but they were especially significant and finely-made in the Inka Empire.
All-T’oqapu Tunic
The Inka emperor hosted feasts, performed religious ceremonies, and ruled his empire from this remote citadel.