Pre-Columbian Art

By: Morgan Greenough

Regions

• The two geographic regions that flourished in Mexico, Central America and South America were:

– Mesoamerica: Mexico and the northern counties of central America

– Andean: Coastal and highlands areas of Peru

Location

Architecture

• Walkway openings were created by corbeling.– A type of arch with a

limited span.

• Temples were built in the shape of a pyramid.

• Carved sculptures into Temple.– Quetzalcoatl Temple

Sculpture

• Sculpture was very ceremonial.

• They carved heads or full figures of gods.

• Also, Animal-human gods were used for funeral urns.

• Built many sculptures on the temples.

Ceramics

• Ceramics was very significant to almost all cultures.

• All pots were hand built with a high quality of skill.

• Made for the use of ritual and burial ceremonies.

Metalwork

• Originated with the early cultures.

• Metals they used:– Gold: associated with the sun

– Silver: the moon

– Tin, copper, and lead: jewelry, death masks, whistles, and ritual objects.

• Smiths hammered, shaped, and cast these materials with lost-wax and open molds.

Fabrics

• Weaving dates back to 1500 BC in coastal Peru (Paracas culture)

• They used cotton, wool, feathers, and animal hide and fur.

• This is woven cotton and wool for a burial mantle.

Mesoamerica

• The most ancient culture in Mesoamerica is the Olmec culture.

• They lived along the Gulf of Mexico (1500 BC-c. 200 AD)

• They carved massive sculptures that mixed human and catlike creatures.

• The jaguar became the symbol of the gods and was present in many forms of art.

Mesoamerica

• The classical civilization was from c. 200- 900.• Some cultures in Mesoamerica were:

– Teotihhucans: Built a huge stone temple

– Mayans: Built many pyramid temples in Middle America

– Zapotec: Made clay funeral urns

• Two Cultures that controlled the land during this time were:– The Toltec: Built on the few temples with carved

warriors and spear throwers. – The Aztecs: Produced calendar stones that illustrated

the days of the week and Aztec history.

Mesoamerica

Andean

• Andean civilizations first started for the Chavin origins, who lived in the highlands of Peru.

• They worshiped the jaguar, but also feared it.

• The Paracus culture, who flourished around 500 BC, produced thin, sculpted pottery vessels in the stirrup tradition.– They were decorated with thick resin pigment.

Andean

• Also, the Mochica and Chimu cultures built large pyramid temples during this era.

• They Mochica also produced naturalistic animal-shaped vessels.

• They featured scored designs and painted patterns.

Andean