Tassel

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This tassel was excavated by antiquarians Reiss and Stuebel during the 1880s at the Ancon necropolis, on the Peruvian coast. It had probably been attached to a mummy bundle - a corpse wrapped in textiles - as an amulet. Shell dust was used in rituals.

This tassel is made of woven or crocheted woollen thread, possibly over a wool stuffing, and it is attached to a limpet shell by a cord.

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

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-297-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1902.526 A
• Date: 14th - 16th century
  Between the 14th and 16th century
  
• Material: Woven coloured wool with limpet-shell
  
• Dimensions: 6.00" L
  
• What:
• Subject: Clothing and textiles
  
• Who:
• Where: South America, Ancient Peru, Ancon
  
• Event:
• Description: Tassel of woven coloured wool with perforated limpet-shell: Ancient Peru, Ancon, 14th - 16th century
  
• References:
  • W Reiss and A Stuebel. The Necropolis of Ancon in Peru. Berlin: Asher 1880-1887. 
• Translations:
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