94 CHILE AX MU.UMY 



accounts, charms and medicines, coca wliicli was chewed with lime, 



and shells that were found in nmmmy bundles and in the graves. A 



number of the chicha jars are on exhibition on to]) of the cases. 



In tlie first case to the left (south side) is a collection of skulls showing: 



many exami)les of trephining, artificial deformation, and 



Sk^n ^^ pathological ccmditions, together witli a number of normal 



Peruvian skulls for comparison. 



'riic wall case at the left of the entrance contains nmnnny l)undles and 



various objects showing the l)urial customs of the Peruvians. In no part 



of America are found so many and so extensive burial 



_, ,, l)laces as in the coast region of Peru. Here were interred 



Bundles ^ , r V • ^ 



countless thousands of the ancient dead. In the huacos or 



graves, with the bodies, were placed such articles as liad been most 



useful and highly i)rized during life, and such as it was considered would 



be most serviceable in a future life. 



To this custom we are indebt(Ml for no small part of our knowledge of 

 the daih' 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 l)een 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.] 



The mummy in the case at the west end of the room was found in a 



copper mine at Chuquicamata, Chile. The body is that of 



,, ^^^ and Indian miner Avho was killed by the falling in of rocks 



Mummy , , , ., i • • , 



and earth while engaged m getting out the copper ore 



(atacamite) used by the Indians in making implements and ornaments in 



prehistoric times. The tissues of the body have been preserved by 



copper salts with which it is impregnated. The implements he was 



using at the time of his death are sho^^'n beside him in the case. 



On the south side of the hall are the ethnological collections from 



Brazil, British Guiana, Paraguay and Colombia. War implements, 



basketr}', featherwork, and musical instruments, etc., are arranged in 



these cases. 



