Study Notes for Indigenous Americas

Unit Three Study Notes: Indigenous Americas

General Overview of Indigenous Art

  • Time Period: 3500 BCE - 1493 CE and beyond

  • Civilizations Studied:

    • Chavin

    • Maya

    • Anasazi (Ancestral Puebloan)

    • Mississippian

    • Aztec

    • Inka

    • North American Indian

Indigenous Americas Artworks

1. Chavin de Huantar

  • Date: 900-200 BCE

  • Location: Northern Highlands, Peru

  • Materials: Granite (architecture), hammered gold alloy (jewelry)

  • Related Images:

    • Chavin de Huantar plan

    • Lanzon Stela

    • Relief Sculpture

    • Nose Ornament

  • Artistic Overview:

    • Architecturally, it was built on a dramatic mountain top, arranged around a U-shaped plan with a ceremonial plaza.

    • Featured figural compositions combining motifs of humans and animals, characterized by symmetry and low-relief carving.

    • The Old Temple contains a maze of hallways, housing the Lanzon—a significant cult figure representing power, measuring 15 feet tall with features blending human and animal characteristics.

2. Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings

  • Date: 450-1300 CE

  • Location: Montezuma County, Colorado

  • Materials: Sandstone

  • Artistic Overview:

    • Ancestral Puebloan works known for multistory apartments built into cliff sides.

    • Structures designed for communal living, defense, and shared storage.

    • The construction techniques showcased local materials and environmental adaptation.

3. Yaxchilan

  • Date: 725 CE

  • Location: Chiapas, Mexico

  • Materials: Limestone

  • Key Structures Included:

    • Structure 40

    • Lintel 25

    • Structure 23, 33

  • Artistic Overview:

    • Maya art is identifiable by sculptures, architectural planning in plazas, and high relief carvings expressing royal narratives, particularly notable in blood-letting ceremonies.

4. Templo Mayor (Main Temple)

  • Date: 1500 CE

  • Location: Modern Mexico City

  • Materials: Stone, volcanic stone, jadeite, basalt

  • Key Features:

    • Center for ritual sacrifice with elaborate artwork glorifying Aztec gods such as Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli.

    • Significant artifacts include Coyolxauhqui stone, Calendar Stone, and Olmec-style masks.

5. Ruler’s Feather Headdress

  • Date: 1500 CE

  • Location: Mexico

  • Materials: Feathers from Quetzal and Cotinga, gold

  • Artistic Overview:

    • Exuded a sense of eternity through the use of 400 green feathers, symbols of prestige and power.

6. Great Serpent Mound

  • Date: 1000 CE

  • Location: Ohio

  • Materials: Earthwork

  • Artistic Overview:

    • An effigy mound that showcases Mississippian culture, indicative of agricultural surplus and ceremonial significance.

Historical Background of Indigenous Americas

  • Migration: People migrated from Asia to America over approximately 30,000 years, establishing diverse cultures.

  • Civilization Development: Some societies advanced in technology, metallurgy, astronomy, and literature, while others remained nomadic hunters and gatherers.

  • Colonial Impact: European colonizers in the late 15th century disrupted native societies, often destroying remnants of older civilizations.

  • Cultural Practices: Known for elaborate burial grounds, reflecting reverence for the dead and foundational cultural beliefs.

Patronage and Artistic Life

  • Artist's Role: Commoners primarily acted as artists, often commissioned by state or royalty for significant works reflecting culture and religion.

  • Training: Artists underwent apprenticeship programs and utilized locally available materials for their works.

Summary of Indigenous Technical and Artistic Responses

  • Each civilization employed the materials at hand to create foundational artistic works ranging from monumental architecture to intricate textiles.

  • Ceremonial and religious practices heavily influenced the artistic output.

  • Reflective of a deep connection to the natural environment and cultural narratives, the works showcase a continuity of tradition even as civilizations evolved or were displaced.

  • Most societies built upon the remnants of their predecessors, indicating a complex tapestry of cultural adaptation and artistic evolution.