Waistcloth from grave, from grave in cemetery

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This woven tasselled waistcloth was among the garments worn by a 'mummy bundle' burial in the huge cemetery at Ancon in Peru. The design and colour would have been symbolically important. Hot, dry conditions have preserved it.

This finely woven wool garment features a design of stylised birds set inside a border, with a woollen cord tassel fringe below.

Before the Spanish conquered Peru, people buried their dead in underground graves. Bodies were placed inside 'mummy bundles', and propped upright to resemble living, sitting people. Grave goods reflected their gender and status.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-000-757-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1902.508
• Date: 14th or 15th century
  Between 1300 and 1534
  
• Material: Red and yellow wool. Inscription: Band of crested birds, possibly condors
  Garment / portion
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Garment / portion
  
• Subject: Clothing and textiles
  
• Who:
• Where: South America, Ancient Peru, Ancon
  
• Event:
• Description: Portion of a tapestry woven garment with a broad fringe and a band of crested birds, possibly condors: Ancient Peru, found in agrave at Ancon, 14th - 16th century
  
• References:
  • Kaulicke, P. Contextos Funerarios de Ancon. Lima: Universidad Catolica del Peru, 1997. 
  • Reiss, W. and Stuebel, A. . The Necropolis of Ancon in Peru. Berlin, 1880-1887. 
  • Sheridan, J A (ed). Heaven and Hell and Other Worlds of the Dead. Edinburgh: National Museum of Scotland, 2000. 
• Translations:
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