MEAD, PERUVIAN MUMMIES 15 
show that the people knew how to exploit and treat the ores occurring 
in their land. Among copper implements there may be seen , 
; Use o 
in the collection a great variety of spear points, club-heads, Copper 
digging and planting implements, knives and axes. 'Tweez- 
ers are among the most familiar objects from the graves, and are often 
found suspended from the neck of a mummy by means of a cord. 
Some of the most notable of the gold objects are a cup beaten from 
a single piece, and ornamented in repoussé-work; human and animal 
figures, both solid and hollow, and beads and pins. The illustration 
on page 13 shows the gold cup and a string of large gold beads. In 
silver there are cups and vessels which, like the gold cup, are beaten 
from single pieces and are often ornamented with human 
Gold and 
or animal figures and_ other designs. Silver tweezers in Silver 
many fanciful forms, pins and a variety of ornaments have 
been found in and with the mummy bundles. These objects prove 
that the makers were familiar with the processes of casting in moulds, 
beating and soldering. Many of the hollow figurines were made in three 
or more pieces and the parts soldered together. 
Another remarkable class of objects is to be found on the right as 
one enters the hall. Here are many garments and pieces of cloth which 
were found wrapped around the dead or deposited in the graves. A 
glance at this part of the collection will show the ancient Peruvians 
had great skill in the art of weaving. Upon closer examination it will 
appear that they were familiar with most of the weaves known to modern 
people, from the finest gobelins to the coarsest cotton cloth. Many of 
the specimens cannot be excelled at the present time. The looms used 
were of the simplest description, consisting of two cross- 
sticks, one at the top, and the other at the bottom. The 
warp threads were stretched from one to the other, while 
Cloth and 
Weaving 
the woof or filling was passed over and under these by a shuttle. So 
the weaving of these most perfect fabrics may be said to have been by 
hand. In this respect they may stand in contrast to the modern 
machine methods. In addition to the excellence of weave Peruvian 
cloth is unique in decoration. The designs are woven in and con- 
sist of geometric figures and conventionalized representations of men, 
pumas, jaguars and various kinds of birds and fish. Some of the forms 
are illustrated on page 16. A part of the decorative effect is due to. 
the regular repetition of the same design in different colors. 
