ch 18 & 35 kw

Kiva

A room used by Puebloans for religious rituals.

Pueblo

A village settlement in the American Southwest of houses several stories tall, made out of adobe, stone, and wood.

Huizilopochtli

Aztec God of the Sun and War.

Parfleche

A backpack, made out of animal hide.

Transformation Mask

A ceremonial mask which opens and closes, used in ritual dances by the tribes of the American Pacific Northwest.

Blackware

A type of ceramic that features matte black on shiny black decoration on the pottery made by Pueblo Indians Maria and Julien Martinez.

Olmec

The first major civilization in Mexico dating to 1500 BCE, they featured a power structure and colossal stone heads.

Tlaloc

Aztec God of Rain and Agriculture.

Coyolxauhqui

Also known as Bells Her Cheeks, she is the woman who was killed and fell to the base of the Templo Mayor after plotting against her mother, the snake Goddess, in Aztec Culture.

T'oqapu

Small rectangular patterned shapes used as symbol of prestige on the garments of Inka rulers.

Corbelled Vault

An arch-like construction method that uses the architectural technique of corbeling to support the superstructure of a building's roof.

Jaguar

A feline animal that was a symbol of power for many South American civilizations including the Olmecs and the Chavin.

Effigy Mound

Popular in Mississippian culture, mounds in the shape of mammals, birds, or reptiles.

Templo Mayor

The main temple of the main gods of the Aztecs, located at the center of their universe, in what is present day Mexico City.

Chacmool

A figure that is half-sitting and half-lying on its back found in Mayan cities, which was likely meant to receive offerings.

Observatory

A building used for observing celestial events.

Hernan Cortes

A Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire.

Anasazi

Meaning 'ancient ones', they are known for their pueblo complexes in the American Southwest.

Ashlar Masonry

Used by the Inkans, this form of stone construction showcases perfectly fitted and grooved stones placed together tightly in a Jigsaw arrangement.

Ledger Drawings

A term for Plains Indian narrative drawing or painting on paper or cloth that flourished primarily from the 1860s to the 1920s.

Bandolier Bag

Used and created by Eastern Indian tribes, this is a heavily beaded bag worn over the shoulder.