IXDIAXS OF SOI Til AMERICA 



G5 



SOUTHWEST WING 



Indians of South America 



Passing through the west corridor of local birds and on into the ad- 

 joining hall to the west, we find the collections relating to the Indians of 

 South America. The greater part of the hall is filled with 

 material from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile, illustrating 

 the various forms of culture that prevailed in the empire of the 

 Incas. These Indians, together with the Mexican Indians, 



Indians of 

 South Amer 

 ica 



PIECES OF CLOTH FOUND WITH PERUVIAN MUMMIES 



The only sources of knowledge of prehistoric Peruvians come from their graves. They 

 were familiar with most modern weaves including the finest gobelins and produced highly 

 decorative effects by harmonized colors and a repetition of woven-in designs. The Museum's 

 collection of mummy cloths is perhaps the largest in the world, and is not fully known, for a 

 large number of the mummy bundles have never been opened 



