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 



TJs© of 



in the collection a great variety of spear points, club-heads, coDDer 

 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 repousse-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 



. , v. , , • o-i • 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 w 

 warp threads were stretched from one to the other, while 

 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. 



