80 corrh'l! MCMMY 



The alc()\(' cases arc ^co^i'apliicallx' acraii^cd. showing- cxhil)its 

 from tlic north towai'd the soutli ot" South America, then uj) into the 

 interior of the continent. I^ronze and copper work, shn^s such as are 

 still in use, |)oi-ti-ait jai-s, vessels upon which the decorations represent 

 animals, fruit and ve<»;etal)les and scenes fnjm daily life, are all prehistoric 

 and many of the specimens are of I'are beauty as well as \alnal)le from 

 an archaeological stan(li)oint . 



The s])ecial exhibits in the «>;allery rail cases include (juipus used to 

 kee|) accounts, chai'ms and medicines, coca which was chewed with lime, 

 and shells that were found in inunun>-bundles and in the graves. A 

 number of the chicha jars are on exhibition on top of the cases. 



In the first case to tlu* l(»ft (south side) is a collection of skulls 



showing manv examples of trej)liining. ai-tihcial deforma- 

 Trephined . i i i • i i- • i • i i 



g, .. tion and pathological conditions, togetlier with a number 



of normal Peruvian skulls for comparison. 

 The wall case at the left of the entrance contains muinm\- bundles 

 and various objects showing the burial customs of the Peruvians. In 



no part of America are found so many and so extensive 

 g ,, burial places as in the coast region of Peru. Here were 



interred countless thousands of the ancient dead. In the 

 huacos or graves, with the bodies, were placed such articles as had been 

 most useful and highly prized during life, and such as it was considered 

 would be most serviceable in a future life. 



To this custom we are indebted for no small part of our knowledge of 

 the daily life of the ancient Peruvians. From the mummy bundles and 

 graves all the objects in the extensive collections in this hall, illustrating 

 their civilization have been obtained. The wonderful state of preserva- 

 tion shown in the textile fabrics and other perishable materials from the 

 coast regions is due to the extreme dryness of the climate and the nitrous 

 character of the soil. [See Guide Leaflet No. 24.] 



Th(^ mununy in the case at the west end of the room was found at 



duKiuicamata, Chile, and is the Ixxly of an Indian which 

 j^ has IxH^n r(Mnarka))ly i)reserv(Hl by nature. This Indian 



probal)ly met his death by the caving in of some mine, and 

 in the dry climate of the region th(^ tissues of the body have been so 

 thoroughly imi)regnated with copper salts that the original form of the 

 man is n^tained. By his side are tlu^ rude stone tools used in mining 

 copper ovv, and otluT objects found with him. 



On the north side of the wall are the ethnological collections from 

 Brazil, British (luiana, Paraguay and Colombia. War implements, 

 basketry, featherwork and musical instruments are arranged in these 

 cases. 



