Hat

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This cotton hat was excavated by German antiquarians Reiss and Stuebel during the 1880s at the necropolis at Ancon, on the Peruvian coast. It had been on the head of a crouched body, buried inside a bulky wrapping of textiles - a 'mummy bundle'.

This multicoloured hat is made of woven or crocheted cotton; it is a simple bell shape, gathered at the top. Its remarkably good state of preservation is due to the dry conditions in the grave; many beautiful textiles have survived.

The practice of burying people in mummy bundles was popular in this part of Peru from the late first millennium AD until the 16th century Spanish conquest. The Ancon necropolis contained many hundreds of these, buried in underground chambers.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-291-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1902.380
• Date: 14th - 16th century
  Between the 14th and 16th century
  
• Material: Cotton
  Cap
  
• Dimensions: 10.00" L x 8.00" W
  
• What: Cap
  
• Subject: Clothing and textiles
  
• Who:
• Where: South America, Ancient Peru
  
• Event:
• Description: Cotton cap woven in transverse bands in variegated colours, taken from the head of a Peruvian mummy: Ancient Peru, 14th - 16th century
  
• References:
  • W Reiss and A Stuebel. The Necropolis of Ancon in Peru. Berlin: Asher 1880-1887. 
• Translations:
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