Unit 5- Indigenous Americas

Study Guide.

Chavín de Huántar

Chavín de Huántar

• Created: 900-200 BC

• Art Movement: Archeological site

• Original Location: Northern Highlands, Peru

• Culture: Chavín

• Material: Stone [The architectural complex], granite [Lazón and sculpture], hammered gold [Jewelry]

• Function: It was a place of worship. The location of Chavín seems to have helped make it a special place, the temple built there became an important pilgrimage site that drew people and their offerings from far (SANTA FOE)

Mesa Verde

• Created: 450-1300 C.E.

• Period: Indigenous Americas.

• Original Location: Montezuma County, Colorado.

• Culture: Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi).

• Material: Sandstone.    (made of stone, mud mortar, and plaster)

• Function: Mostly  residential, some were used for storage and rituals: these were the most famous residential sites dated to the 12th and 13th century.

Yaxhilán

• Created: 750 C.E.

• Period: Indigenous America in the Classic period (250-900 C.E.)

• Original Location: Chiapas, Mexico.

• Culture: Mayas.

• Material: Limestone.

• Function: City-state and to emphasize the power of the Mexica Empire.

Giant Serpent

• Date of Creation:1070c.

• Culture:Mississippian Civilization

• Period:Indigenous Americas

• Original Location: Adams County Southern Ohio

• Material:Earthwork/Effigy Mound/Dirt

• Function: May have been used to mark time or seasons, perhaps indicating when to plant or harvest. Snakes were seen to be a symbol of fertility on earth in crops.

Templo Mayor

• Date of Creation: 1375-1520

• Original Location: Tenochtitlan

• Culture: Aztec

• Period: Indigenous Americas

• Materials: Stone

• Function: The Templo Mayor was constructed as a double pyramid with a wide platform that supported two different shrines, with two separate staircases leading up to each. The template on the right was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the patron of deity of Aztecs, or Mexican, and god of war and fire, and the one on the left was dedicated to Tlaloc, an ancient god of rain and fertility (the structure can best be described as a step pyramid)

Ruler’s feather headress

• Date of Creation: 1428–1520 ce

• Artist/Culture: Mexica (Aztec)

• Location: Mexico/ now in Europe sent by Hernan Cortes

• Media:  Feathers (quetzal and cotinga) and gold.

• Function: Art made of feathers was seen as a symbol of wealth and status Thought to have ceremonial purpose. Were used to create fans and shields as well as headdresses

City of Cuzco

• Date of Creation: 1440 CE, convent added 1550 CE-1650 CE

• Artist/Culture: Inca

• Location: Central highlands, Peru

• Movement: Indigenous Peoples

• Media: Andesite (volcanic rock)

• Function: Capital of the Inca Empire, at 11,200 feet above sea level.

Maize Cob

• Date of Creation: 1440 - 1533 C.E. 

• Original Location: Qorikancha

• Culture of Origin: Inka (Inca)

• Artists: Incan metalsmiths

• Period: Indigenous Americas

• Materials: Sheet metal/repoussé, metal alloys

• Function: an offering for religious purposes

Machu Picchu

• Date of Creation:1450c.-1540c.

• Location: Central Highlands, Peru

• Culture:Inca 

• Period:Indigenous Americas

• Materials:Granite

• Function:Architectural Complex, it is known that Machu Picchu was a sacred place where the Incas worshiped their gods, but that would not have been the only use that the Inca gave it, it was used as a retreat for the emperor and his family. The city due to its position had an ideal climate in which they used to plant crops such as coca leaves. It was used by the emperor in winter because of Machu Picchu’s mild weather.

All-T’oqapu tunic

• Date of Creation: 1450-1540

• Original Location: Peru 

• Culture: Inca 

• Period: Indigenous Americas

• Materials: Camelid fiber and cotton

• Function: The garment was a royal tunic that symbolized the power of the “Sapa Inca” 

Bandolier bag

• Date of Creation: 1850 C.E. 

• Original Location: Lenape (Delaware tribe, Eastern Woodlands)

• Culture of Origin: Lenape

• Period: Indigenous Americas

• Materials: Beadwork on leather

• Function: As part of male ceremonial dress that indicated social status and cultural identity

Transformation mask

• Date of Creation: Late 19th Century

• Artist/Culture: The Kwakwaka’wakw/Kwakiutl

• Location: Northwest coast of Canada

• Movement: Indigenous

• Media: Red cedar wood, paint, and string

• Function: Creates a powerful effect during ceremonies

• Worn during potlatch where the host displays his high social status

• Portrayed family ancestry which could contain family crests

• This item could be passed from generations of family members in a clan

Painted Ink Hide

• Date of Creation:  1890-1900

• Artist: Cotsiogo (Cadzi Cody)

•  Culture: Shoshone culture

• Location: Wind River Reservation, Wyoming

• Movement: Indigenous Native American Art

• Media: Elk hide and pigment

• Function:  Most likely for tourists; to support the artist. Could be used as a wall hanging or rug 

Black-on-black ceramic vessel

• Created: Mid 20th century CE

• Art Movement: Indigenous Americas

• Original Location: Tewa, Puebloan, San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico

• Artist: Maria and Julian Martinez

• Material: Blackware ceramic

• Function: Appear beautiful and keep the tradition of ceramic-making alive.