Unit 5- Indigenous Americas

Created: 900-200 BC

Art Movement: Archeological site

Original Location: Northern Highlands, Peru

Culture: Chavín

Material: Stone [The architectural complex], granite [Lazón and sculpture], hammered gold [Jewelry]

Function: It was a place of worship. The location of Chavín seems to have helped make it a special place, the temple built there became an important pilgrimage site that drew people and their offerings from far (SANTA FOE)

Created: 450-1300 C.E.

Period: Indigenous Americas.

Original Location: Montezuma County, Colorado.

Culture: Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi).

Material: Sandstone.    (made of stone, mud mortar, and plaster)

Function: Mostly  residential, some were used for storage and rituals: these were the most famous residential sites dated to the 12th and 13th century.

Created: 750 C.E.

Period: Indigenous America in the Classic period (250-900 C.E.)

Original Location: Chiapas, Mexico.

Culture: Mayas.

Material: Limestone.

Function: City-state and to emphasize the power of the Mexica Empire.

Date of Creation:1070c.

Culture:Mississippian Civilization

Period:Indigenous Americas

Original Location: Adams County Southern Ohio

Material:Earthwork/Effigy Mound/Dirt

Function: May have been used to mark time or seasons, perhaps indicating when to plant or harvest. Snakes were seen to be a symbol of fertility on earth in crops.

Date of Creation: 1375-1520

Original Location: Tenochtitlan

Culture: Aztec

Period: Indigenous Americas

Materials: Stone

Function: The Templo Mayor was constructed as a double pyramid with a wide platform that supported two different shrines, with two separate staircases leading up to each. The template on the right was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the patron of deity of Aztecs, or Mexican, and god of war and fire, and the one on the left was dedicated to Tlaloc, an ancient god of rain and fertility (the structure can best be described as a step pyramid)

Date of Creation: 1428–1520 ce

Artist/Culture: Mexica (Aztec)

Location: Mexico/ now in Europe sent by Hernan Cortes

Media:  Feathers (quetzal and cotinga) and gold.

Function: Art made of feathers was seen as a symbol of wealth and status Thought to have ceremonial purpose. Were used to create fans and shields as well as headdresses

Date of Creation: 1440 CE, convent added 1550 CE-1650 CE

Artist/Culture: Inca

Location: Central highlands, Peru

Movement: Indigenous Peoples

Media: Andesite (volcanic rock)

Function: Capital of the Inca Empire, at 11,200 feet above sea level.

Date of Creation: 1440 - 1533 C.E. 

Original Location: Qorikancha

Culture of Origin: Inka (Inca)

Artists: Incan metalsmiths

Period: Indigenous Americas

Materials: Sheet metal/repoussé, metal alloys

Function: an offering for religious purposes

Date of Creation:1450c.-1540c.

Location: Central Highlands, Peru

Culture:Inca 

Period:Indigenous Americas

Materials:Granite

Function:Architectural Complex, it is known that Machu Picchu was a sacred place where the Incas worshiped their gods, but that would not have been the only use that the Inca gave it, it was used as a retreat for the emperor and his family. The city due to its position had an ideal climate in which they used to plant crops such as coca leaves. It was used by the emperor in winter because of Machu Picchu’s mild weather.

Date of Creation: 1450-1540

Original Location: Peru 

Culture: Inca 

Period: Indigenous Americas

Materials: Camelid fiber and cotton

Function: The garment was a royal tunic that symbolized the power of the “Sapa Inca” 

Date of Creation: 1850 C.E. 

Original Location: Lenape (Delaware tribe, Eastern Woodlands)

Culture of Origin: Lenape

Period: Indigenous Americas

Materials: Beadwork on leather

Function: As part of male ceremonial dress that indicated social status and cultural identity

Date of Creation: Late 19th Century

Artist/Culture: The Kwakwaka’wakw/Kwakiutl

Location: Northwest coast of Canada

Movement: Indigenous

Media: Red cedar wood, paint, and string

Function: Creates a powerful effect during ceremonies

Worn during potlatch where the host displays his high social status

Portrayed family ancestry which could contain family crests

This item could be passed from generations of family members in a clan

Date of Creation:  1890-1900

Artist: Cotsiogo (Cadzi Cody)

 Culture: Shoshone culture

Location: Wind River Reservation, Wyoming

Movement: Indigenous Native American Art

Media: Elk hide and pigment

Function:  Most likely for tourists; to support the artist. Could be used as a wall hanging or rug 

Created: Mid 20th century CE

Art Movement: Indigenous Americas

Original Location: Tewa, Puebloan, San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico

Artist: Maria and Julian Martinez

Material: Blackware ceramic

Function: Appear beautiful and keep the tradition of ceramic-making alive.