226 



A STUDY OF CHIRIQUIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



The use of metal disks or plaques as breast ornaments was widespread in pre- 

 Columbian times. They are reported by Ambrosetti from the Calchaqui region 



of Argentina. A mummy found by Uhle 

 near Casabindo, wore a copper disk on 

 its breast. The specimen is now in the 

 Museum fur Volkerkunde, Berlin. Bollaert 

 figures a gold plaque from Cuenca, Ecua- 

 dor ; and a half-dozen from Angel, Prov- 

 ince of Carchi, are to be seen in the 

 Museum of the University of Quito. Saville 

 describes copper disks, also from Ecuador, 

 each with an embossed face in the center. 

 Specimens from the United States of Co- 

 lombia and from Florida, described by 

 Kunz, have already been noted. Clarence 

 B. Moore illustrates a copper plaque from 

 Mt. Royal, Florida, and points out its re- 

 Fig. 380.- Gold plaque. Heye collection. '/ semblance to those shown by Le Moyne 



on king Outina. Gold plaques have been 



found in various tombs of Mexico, in some cases on the breastbone. They are 

 the symbol of Tezcatlipoca, " shining mirror," and are represented in the ancient 

 codices as worn on the breast of the priests of Tezcatlipoca. 



