Treasures from the Grave: Pre-Hispanic Art and Ritual

Columbus may have sailed the ocean blue in 1492, but art, civilization, and unique burial (or non-burial) practices were present in the Americas long before then. The value and meaning of pre-Hispanic grave goods has changed over time, but the artistry of the objects has withstood the test of time. Most of the graves goods included in Treasures from the Grave: Pre-Hispanic Art and Ritual, were probably from the tombs of elites, who were buried with objects that took the most time to create and were crafted from exotic materials. 

View a shrunken head, many examples of religious and ritual sculptures, and sparkling golden jewelry from the Tairona, Sinú, Quimbaya, and Calima cultures of Colombia.