Art of the Americas Before 1300
Tangyan, EdwardAPAH, Period 6
People lived in extended family groups in towns led by chiefs—did not live in hierarchical societies
Group called Diquis occupied fortified villages lasting from 700-1500 CE
Metal work (especially with gold and copper) was widespread through Central America (lost-wax technique developed in present-day Columbia and spread north from there)
Central America
Shaman with Drum and Snake (13th-16th century, Gold)
Resides in Costa Rica Came with the use of gold and
copper-gold alloys in artwork (Metallurgy)
Used lost-wax casting technique Shaman is a small, exquisite
pendant-good example of the style and tecnique of Diquis goldwork
Male figure wearing bracelets, anklets, and a belt with a snake-headed sheath
He plays a drum while holding the tail of a snake in his teeth and its head in his left hand
Wavy forms in elaborate reptile costume, inverted triangles on headdress represent bird tails
Diquis
Bird and snake imagery important to culture
Mythology- serpents/crocodiles inhabited lower world, humans and bird a higher one
Maybe shaman is transforming or performing a ritual?
Scrolls on side of head represent hearing or ability to understand animals
Shows a ritual of mediation between earthly and cosmic powers involving music, dance, and costume
Gold thought to capture the energy and power of the sun (wore to inspire fear)
Energy used to travel into cosmic realms
Diquis
Developed complex hierarchical societies with varied artistic traditions
Drastic geographical differences in South America--narrow coastal plain is one of the driest deserts in the world, the Andes have high grasslands with sloping areas, and eastern slopes of the Andes descend into the tropical rain forests of the Amazon basin The ecological variations impacted the art that
developed in different regions
South America
Chavin During 1000 to 200 BCE, the Early Horizon
period, Chavin style art developed and spread
Art style developed at the site of Chavin de Huantar
Innovations in metallurgy, ceramics and textiles
Chavin people believed in an afterlife and that idea is reflected in their art
Raimondi Stone Low relief sculpture in diorite Found in a ceremonial complex 1000-600BCE Chavin Style art made during Early
Horizon period Figure’s headdress has snakes
emerging and fills the entire surface
Typifies Chavin art style: frontal, symmetrical, curvilinear design and combination of human, animal, bird and reptile parts
Chavin
Mantle with BirdImpersonators
Paracas textile 200BCE-200CE
Culture flourished from about 1000 BCE to 200 CE, overlapping Chavin period
Known for textiles that were extensively wrapped around the bodies of the dead
Textiles were a source of prestige and wealth Textile production was an important factor in the
domestication of both cotton and llamas Featured repeating embroidered patterns of warriors,
dancers, and composite creators (bird people)
Paracas—south coast of Peru (1000 BCE-200 CE)
Earth Drawing of a Hummingbird Nazca geoglyph 100BCE-700CE Nazca’s dominated the south
coast of Peru from about 200 BCE to 600 CE
Best known for colossal earthworks, geoglyphs.
Made on great stretches of desert by removing dark stones and exposing the light underlying stones
Each geoglyph was maintained by a clan and at certain times clans would gather and exchange goods and look for marriage partners
Purpose of geoglyphs is unclear
Nazca—South Coast of Peru (200 BCE-600 CE)
North coast of Peru- Moche Valley From Piura Valley to Huarmey Valley 200 B.C.-600 C.E.
Pyramid of Sun and Moon Adobe brick Dominating structures of decentralized social government of
Moche Performed sacrificial ceremonies
Popular icon of art Prisoners of war given as sacrifice Priests would drink blood of the sacrificed Warrior Priest, Bird Priest and Priestess Belief of maintaining good favor with the gods
Well-known for their ceramic artwork Created ceramic molds
Allowing mass production
Moche
Moche Moche Lord with a Feline Naturalistic models of humans and animals Portrait of Moche lord Painted ceramic Found in Moche Valley, Peru 100-500 C.E. 7 ½ in. tall Spout and handle in back Power and status in throne and dress
Wears earspools and headdress Fine-line, decorative painting
Mythological narratives and ritual scenes Believed animals to be sacred,
anthropomorphic vessels of soul Lord strokes jaguar cub or cat
Luxury item buried with its owner in ceremony
Khafre- Giza, Old KingdomKritian Boy- Acropolis
Classical Period
Comparison of the Human Form
Moche Earspool Common decorative pieces among Moche people Inserted through holes of the earlobes
Used to stretch earlobes Worn in pairs Held in place by thread, connecting the two holes
Depiction of warriors Held in high regard Anatomical detail Elaborate dress- wealth Nose ornament, holding club and shield Headdress with crescent shapes
Resemble knives used in sacrifices Owl head necklace
Gold with turquoise, quartz and shell 5 in. diameter Found in Sipan, Peru 2nd-5th century C.E. Buried with their wearers
North America Sparsely populated Limited agriculture Included different cultures
100 B.C.- 550 C.E. Part of Woodland Period
300 B.C.-1000 C.E. Traders and mound builders Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio cultures traded with other North and
Central American cultures Traded pipestones and flint-like stones for Floridian shark teeth and
turtle shells Used cooper from Upper Michigan and mica from Appalachian Mountains
Burial and ceremonial earthworks Buried the dead with jewels and goods
Built mounds for shrines, sacred fires and holding homes of chiefs Carved pipes with animal representations using naturalistic
observations
Hopewell
Beaver Effigy Platform Pipe Found in Bedford Mound, Pike
County, IL 100-200 C.E. Length 4 9/16 x 1 7/8 x 2” Pipestone, river pearl, and bone Used in trade and social groupings Realism and stylized simplification Beaver crouching on platform White, shiny materialsspirituality
Pearl eyes= spirit world creature Leaves placed in bowl of beaver’s
back and lighted, then smoked from back end
Hopewell
Great Serpent Mound
Located in Adams County, Ohio 1070 C.E. World’s largest effigy mound Mounds of clay and rock, covered by soil Built on meteor site (Permian Period)
Created plateau with cryptoexplosion structure folded and faulted bedrock
1,254 ft long, 3 ft high National Historic Landmark- Department of Interior Constructed among three cultures: Adena, Hopewell, and Fort
Ancient Undulating, intricate design Great Serpent- mythological creature of Hopewell people
Embodied power of the Underworld Contrasted against the falcon or birdman Often horned or winged
Serpent holding an egg in its mouth Symbolizes vast eternity
Hopewell
Great Serpent Mound (continued) Mississippians valued relationship between the universe and
mankind Surrounding burial sites 1815 first map 1967 Ohio Historical Society opens Serpent Mound Museum 1886 excavated by Frederic Ward Putnam Head and egg align with summer solstice sunset
1987 Clark and Majorie Hardman Astronomical influences
1054 creation of Crab Nebula 1066 Halley’s Comet Designed after constellation Draco
Connecting the land and underground to heavens Honoring significant event Suggested representation of an eclipse Purpose remains unidentified
Hopewell
500-1500 C.E. Fort Center, Florida Glades Warlike group dominating Southern Florida Mainly hunted and fished
Fed off sea mammals, fish and shell fish No agricultural fields Dug waterways and canals Mound temples and shrines
Decorated with posts holding animal head carvings Simplified, painted carvings
Natural observations Animal head and masks used in sacrifices and ceremonies
Sometimes of human features Worn as headdresses by priests
Florida Glades
Pelican Figurehead 1000 C.E. Key Marco Decorative, architectural element—
possibly part of a shrine Wood and paint
Black, white, and gray 4 3/8 x 2 3/8 x 3 1/8” Once had wings
Found elsewhere later disintegrated
Clan symbols for bird or animal cult Other animals include: sea turtle,
alligator, fish-hawk, owl, bear, crab, wolf
Florida Glades
Mostly had influences within the four corners region (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico)
Because agriculture was usually out of the question in such a deserted climate, the pueblo people would live together and build apartment-like and storied buildings creating massive communities
Some buildings were constructed to serve as communal food storage, others for religious purposes
Other cultures in the area adapted and built deep and narrow irrigation systems to accommodate the water shortage
The American Southwest
Pueblo Society
Pueblo 550-1250 C.E. Four Corners Region: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and
New Mexico Developed irrigation system Known for Pottery Pueblo Bonito of Chaco Canyon
D-shaped, over 800 rooms in five or four storied apartment buildings
Also dwelled in community caves of canyons and cliffs Protection and insulation Community solidarity and responsibility
Pueblo Art of pottery carried through generations
Still in practice today Female potters Low-fired ceramics Earthenware, black-and-white pigment 14 ½” diameter 1150 C.E. Designed for seed storage
Narrow mouth helps prevent spillage Globular shape allows ample room Holes at top used for hanging
Hung off the ground to prevent seeds from being eaten by rodents
Dotted square, zigzag pattern Angular design contrasting round form
Emphasizes curviness
Pottery Comparison
Death of Sarpedon (Euphronios Krater)
Red Figure Vase- Archaic PeriodAchilles and Ajax Playing a Game Black Figure Vase- Archaic Period
Timeline
1500BC 1200BC 900BC 600BC 300BC 0 300AD 600AD 900AD 1200AD 1500AD
Diquis
Chavin
Paracas
Nazca
Moche
Hopewell
Florida Glades Culture
Pueblo
In Conclusion South America
Advanced civilizations such as Aztecs, Mayans, Incans Power and wealth symbolized in their building designs and massive city
complexes Similar to Mesopotamian Catal Huyuk and Greek civilizations
Knowledge=power Mayans developed calendar and system of writing which includes 800 glyphs
Religion Aztecs maintain good favor with their gods through blood sacrifices
Priests perform sacrifices atop step pyramids North America
Sparsely populated Hunting, fishing, gathering plants Concentrated populations around Missouri and Mississippi Rivers,
Louisiana area Development of agriculture (squash, sunflower, corn) 1000 B.C. nomadicsettled communities Earthworks