General guide to the exhibition halls of the American Museum of Natural History . at theright shows a handto hand combatbetween mythicalbeings the center of the hall, selected examples ofpottery show the different forms and deco-rations which distinguish the various im-portant cultures of Peru and Bolivia. As faras our present knowledge permits, thechanges which occurred in the course of timeare also indicated. Each of these cultures isshown in greater detail in individual cases. Outstanding is the beautiful work of theNazca people in cases to the left of the en-trance. In special exhibits are
General guide to the exhibition halls of the American Museum of Natural History . at theright shows a handto hand combatbetween mythicalbeings the center of the hall, selected examples ofpottery show the different forms and deco-rations which distinguish the various im-portant cultures of Peru and Bolivia. As faras our present knowledge permits, thechanges which occurred in the course of timeare also indicated. Each of these cultures isshown in greater detail in individual cases. Outstanding is the beautiful work of theNazca people in cases to the left of the en-trance. In special exhibits are grouped suchthings as musical instruments, whistlingwater jars, examples of intentionally de-formed human heads and trephined skullsshowing the successful practice of a delicatesurgical operation bv the ancient Peruvians. POTTERY OFEARLY NAZCAPERIOD. The Val-ley of Nazca wasthe center of one ofthe earliest highlydeveloped culturesin Peru. It datesfrom the beginningof the ChristianEra. The two jarsat the left showconventional repre-sentations of the fe-line-monster deitv [I50. Much of our knowledge of their daily lifewe owe ro a fortunate combination of cli-matic conditions and tribal customs. Alongthe coast of Peru, w here the extreme drynessof the climate and nitrous character of thesoil have preserved perishable materials forcenturies, are more extensive burial placesthan anywhere else in America. Countlessthousands of bodies were interred with suchthings as had been most useful and prizedduring life or were considered to be mostserviceable in a future life. Examples of thesemummy bundles are displayed, and it Masfrom such as these that many objects in thehall were secured. The mummy in the case at the west sideof the room was found in a copper mine at Chuquicamata, Chile. The body is that of an Indian miner who was killed by the fallingin of rocks and earth while engaged in get-ting out the copper ore (atacamite) used bythe Indians in making implements and orna-ments in pre
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade191, booksubjectnaturalhistorymuseums
