Textile pendant ornament

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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.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-292-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: 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
  Ornament, mummy
  
• 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. 
• Translations:
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