| From the harsh Bolivian highlands to the deserts of Chile to the coasts of Peru, the Tiwanaku people ruled a vast territory for more than a thousand years. Then they disappeared abruptly, leaving behind one of South America's most spectacular archaeological sites. Unlock the mysteries of this powerful yet little-known culture through its intricate textiles, bold ceramics, rare gold and silver, and finely carved wood and stone sculptures. All amazingly well preserved, these objects reveal a rich culture and a fascinating, sometimes violent tradition of sacred rituals and human sacrifice. October 16, 2004 through January 23, 2005 Denver Art Museum |
| Snuff trays were used to prepare hallucinogenic drugs for sacrificial rites. The sacrificer, who holds a severed human head, stands on a stepped structure that recalls Tiwanaku ceremonial architecture. Snuff Tray with Sacrificer, A.D. 200-800, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Museo R.P. Gustavo Le Paige, S.J., San Pedro de Atacama. |
| The Wari people of central Peru had strong ties to Tiwanaku, and objects from the two cultures are so similar in style that they’re often confused. This high-ranking Wari figure wears a tie-dyed tunic and rides in a litter, a platform carried on poles. Masked Dignitary in a Litter, A.D. 500-900, coastal Peru. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 1997.1. |
| Most gold objects from Tiwanaku were discovered and melted down by later peoples. This rare gold ornament, probably worn in a headdress or garment, survived for centuries in the safety of a tomb. Ornament, 200 B.C.-A.D. 400, Cuzco, Peru. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Purchase, anonymous gift, 1984, 1984.14. |
| The people of Tiwanaku decorated their surroundings and their bodies with brightly colored textiles like this four-cornered hat. Many of these objects have maintained their brilliant colors for over a thousand years. Four-Cornered Hat, A.D. 400-1000, southern Peru. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Bequest of Arthur M. Bullowa, 1993, 1994.35.158. |
| Tiwanaku pottery is known for its precise decoration, but the painted shapes on this drinking cup are less formal. It was made at a time when the empire’s power had waned. Kero, A.D. 1000-1200, Moquegua, Peru. Museo Contisuyo, Moquegua. |
| A beautifully illustrated catalog is available in the Museum Shop for $40 ($36 for members). For more information, call 720-865-5000. |
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