Textile pendant ornament

This was excavated by German antiquarians Reiss and Stuebel during the 1880s at the necropolis at Ancon, on the Peruvian coast. It had been a decorative tassel for a thin, gauze-like garment in a 'mummy bundle'.

This woollen ornament is in the form of a stylised human face, fringed with a 'headdress' and with tassels of various lengths extending below. The face has been made by fine, elaborate stitching.

The Ancon necropolis contained hundreds of 'mummy bundles' - people buried crouched, and wrapped in textiles, with a false head attached, and accompanied by possessions, in underground chambers. They span several centuries to around 1500.

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Online ID:	000-190-004-292-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland A.1902.381
Date:	14th - 16th century Between the 14th and 16th century
Material:	Variegated worsted
Dimensions:
What:	Ornament, mummy
Subject:	Mummy ornaments
Who:
Where:	South America, Ancient Peru
Event:
Description:	Ornament in variegated worsted representing a human face with fringes and tassels from the knee of a mummy: Ancient Peru, 14th - 16th century
References:	W Reiss and A Stuebel. The Necropolis of Ancon in Peru. Berlin: Asher 1880-1887.
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