Woven textile with crab and bird design, from grave in cemetery

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This fringed cloth, made of finely woven wool, 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.

Woven textile in red and cream wool, featuring a panel with crab motifs edged by a Greek key-like design. Below this, the fabric has been woven as thin strips to make a decorative fringe, with cat and angular motifs.

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: 000-180-000-758-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.1902.506
• Date: 14th - 16th century
  Between 1300 and 1534
  
• Material: Red and yellow wool. Inscription: Crabs; wave scrolls; On tags: cat and conventionalised bird designs
  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 crabs set between wave scroll borders and cat and bird designs on the tags: 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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