The Washington herald., 1907-04-07
BURIED WEALTH OF INCAS
New York Has Unique Collection
of Prehistoric Ornaments.
HRndicFaft of Aboriginal Race
Wrested from Burial Sites.

One Of the largest and most valuable
collections Of prehistoric gold AID silver
ornaments so far recovered from the soil
Of South America is now in New York
These magnificent treasures are the result
Of the Museum Of Natural History's ex-
tended explorations among the ancient
burial places of the powerful and cul-
tured race of the Incas. whose empire or
confederacy in the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries occupied the table lands of
Peru. Bolivia, and Ecuador.
Curator Charles Mead, OF the Peruvian
department, has recently rearranged and
installed these rich relics. showing strlk-
ingly the handicraft and the high degree
Of civilization possessed by this the most
remarkable aboriginal race of the New
World, says the New York Times. They
are displayed in massive showcase at
the entrance OF the Peruvian han
The relies were wrested mainly from
ancient burial sites. and their presence
is attributed % the elaborate worship Of
the dead. which prescribed that offerings
should be placed in the graves Of nearly
all the objects associated with the de-
ceased in daily life such as choice per
sonal ornaments OF gold and silver. rich
garments. pottery, &c. In some instances.
however, these were deposited for sacri-
fetal and votIve purposes during religious
cerem0nials.
In order 10 use every foot Of tillable
soil the dead were consigned to unproduc-
tive and barren places. The graves OF the
coast were in desert sandy stretches.
while the people of the high uplands of
the Andes used the sides OF steep cliffs
but more especially stone towers. called
chulpas. One of these mortuary struc-
lures was % feet high, % feet I'm circum-
ference on the top. and = feet at the
base. The majority were round, though
a few were square shaped
They were built Of massive stone blocks
and the Inca race possessed extraordinary
skill in handling, polishing, and joining
the stones, as often no mortar was used.
In these the bodies were Inferred with,
great p0mp ana ceremony. together with
rich objects Of gold, silver. and elegant
pottery
The interiors Of the chulpas varied in
size and construction. some having a sin
- a
had inches. The entrance was gained
through a small opening at the bottom
hardly large enough to admit the body of
Il man. This was closed by a stone slab.
one OF the most peculiar Of the funeral
accomplishments was that of a false head.
a square sort of cushion stitched on top OF
the mummy pack, which contained the
wrapped body inside. 70 this a large
mask was attached made out of thin sill
yer or gold.
The idea Of this extra death mask was
seemingly TO give a human appearance.
which they wished their dead to retain
even in their buried abode Most of the
hammered gold ornaments for personal
use were in the shape of animals, more cr
less conventionalized in some instances.
such as a frog. crocodile, parrots head.
birds. &c. Two very handsome and very
massive gold tWeeZers were found. These.
it is thought. were used for pulling out the
eyelashes and undesirable hair Of the face
and head of the Indian bellies of that
period. Immense ear ornaments in silver
and gold were worn. an linen or more in
diameter. and huge silver topos or ponchO
pins twelve inches long. 20 fasten these
shoulder garments. Probably some of the
most striking and noteworthy relics found
We're q series OF pOTtrait-shaped gold and
silver cups a foot high. thought to have
been used for ceremonial purposes.
The most numerous of all the objects
found i'm the burials were splendid images
of the llama. the celebrated beast of bur
den and sacred animal of the Indian peo-
pies of their day. 1t is portrayed on pot
terry vessels and was especially made into
gold and silver figurines.
On the island of Titicaca. in the lake of
that name, which was observed as great
place of pilgrimages where elaborate
feasts and ceTemonials. sacrifices, &c.
were observed by the Inc1s. many Of
these gold and silver images were OBJ
tanned The lake, it is believed. would, if
dredged. yield up many thousands Of these
and similar precious gold articles thrown
in it is alleged. both as a sacrifice and to
prevent them from falling into the hands
Of PizarTo's bard