Glossary
Anasazi
An ancient Native American culture of the Southwest United States, known for their distinctive cliff dwellings and pueblo architecture.
Example:
The impressive multi-story structures of Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon demonstrate the sophisticated architectural skills of the Anasazi people.
Ancient America
Art created in Mexico, Central America, and South America prior to 1550 CE, encompassing diverse pre-Columbian civilizations.
Example:
The intricate gold work of the Moche culture in Peru is a prime example of art from Ancient America, showcasing sophisticated metallurgy before European arrival.
Andean South America
The cultural region encompassing the Andes Mountains in South America, home to civilizations such as the Chavín and Inca.
Example:
The intricate textiles of the Paracas culture, known for their vibrant colors and complex patterns, are significant artistic contributions from Andean South America.
Ashlar masonry
Finely cut and dressed stone, laid in regular courses with very thin joints, creating a smooth and precise surface without the need for mortar.
Example:
The perfectly fitted stones of the Qorikancha in Cusco demonstrate the exceptional quality of ashlar masonry achieved by the Inca.
Aztec
A powerful Mesoamerican empire centered in Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City), known for its polytheistic religion, elaborate rituals, and monumental stone sculpture.
Example:
The Sun Stone, a massive carved basalt disk, is a famous artifact of the Aztec civilization, depicting their cosmology and calendar.
Bandolier Bag
A large, heavily beaded bag with a wide strap worn diagonally across the chest, common among Native American groups, particularly in the Eastern Woodlands and Plains.
Example:
A vibrant Bandolier Bag might feature intricate floral or geometric beadwork, reflecting the wearer's status and cultural identity during social gatherings.
Black-on-Black Ceramic Vessel
A distinctive pottery style developed by Maria and Julian Martinez of the San Ildefonso Pueblo, characterized by matte and polished black surfaces.
Example:
A Black-on-Black Ceramic Vessel often features intricate geometric patterns that shimmer against the duller background, showcasing the artists' mastery of firing techniques.
Chavín
An influential pre-Incan civilization in the Andes Mountains of Peru, known for its ceremonial architecture and zoomorphic sculptures.
Example:
The Lanzón, a towering carved monolith at the center of the Old Temple, is a key artifact from the Chavín culture, embodying their complex religious beliefs.
Conquistadors
Spanish conquerors who arrived in the Americas, bringing European diseases, practices of enslavement, and artistic traditions that profoundly impacted indigenous cultures.
Example:
The arrival of the Conquistadors led to the destruction of many Aztec temples, which were often replaced by Christian churches built from the same stones.
Corbelled vaulting
An architectural technique where stones are progressively cantilevered inward from the walls until they meet at the top, forming a pointed arch or vault.
Example:
The interior chambers of many Mayan temples utilize corbelled vaulting to create impressive, high ceilings without true arches.
Incan
The largest pre-Columbian empire in the Americas, located in Andean South America, renowned for its sophisticated road system, textiles, and precise ashlar masonry.
Example:
Machu Picchu, a breathtaking mountain citadel, showcases the engineering prowess and architectural mastery of the Incan empire.
Mayan
A Mesoamerican civilization renowned for its advanced writing system, mathematics, astronomy, and distinctive architecture including pyramids and narrative relief sculptures.
Example:
The intricate hieroglyphic carvings on stelae at Copán provide detailed historical accounts of Mayan rulers and their divine lineage.
Mesoamerica
A historical and cultural region spanning from central Mexico south to northern Costa Rica, home to civilizations like the Maya and Aztec.
Example:
The monumental pyramids of Teotihuacan, dedicated to the Sun and Moon, are iconic architectural achievements from Mesoamerica.
Mississippian
A Native American culture that flourished in the central and southeastern United States, characterized by large-scale earthwork mounds and complex social structures.
Example:
Cahokia Mounds, near modern-day St. Louis, was a major urban center of the Mississippian culture, featuring massive earthen pyramids.
Mound-builders
Various indigenous cultures of North America, particularly the Mississippian, who constructed large earthen mounds for ceremonial, burial, or residential purposes.
Example:
The Great Serpent Mound in Ohio, an effigy mound depicting a winding snake, is a prominent example of the mound-builders' artistic and spiritual practices.
Narrative art
Art that tells a story, often depicting historical events, mythological tales, or ceremonial sequences.
Example:
The murals at Bonampak vividly illustrate battle scenes and royal ceremonies, serving as powerful examples of narrative art in the Mayan tradition.
Native North America
Art produced by the indigenous peoples residing in the regions now known as the United States and Canada.
Example:
A Kwakwaka'wakw Transformation Mask from the Pacific Northwest is a powerful example of art from Native North America, used in ceremonial dances to reveal different identities.
Painted Elk Hide
A traditional Native American art form, particularly among Plains tribes, where narratives or symbolic imagery are painted onto prepared animal hides.
Example:
A Painted Elk Hide might depict a warrior's brave deeds in battle or a significant communal event like a buffalo hunt, serving as a visual record of history.
Polytheistic
Belief in or worship of multiple gods or deities.
Example:
The ancient Greeks, with their pantheon of Olympian gods like Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, practiced a polytheistic religion.
Pueblos
Multi-story communal dwellings made of adobe or stone, often built into cliff sides or on mesa tops by indigenous peoples of the American Southwest.
Example:
The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings are iconic examples of pueblos, providing shelter and defense for the Ancestral Puebloans.
Roof combs
Large, decorative structures built atop Mayan temples, extending vertically above the roofline to increase the apparent height and grandeur of the building.
Example:
The Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque is crowned with an elaborate roof comb, adding to its majestic silhouette against the jungle canopy.
Ruler's Feather Headdress
A magnificent Aztec featherwork piece, likely worn by Moctezuma II, made from quetzal and other bird feathers, symbolizing power and divinity.
Example:
The vibrant green feathers of the Ruler's Feather Headdress would have shimmered with every movement, emphasizing the wearer's connection to the sacred quetzal bird.
Syncretism
The blending of different cultural or religious beliefs and practices, often resulting in unique hybrid artistic styles.
Example:
A colonial-era painting of the Virgin Mary adorned with indigenous featherwork demonstrates syncretism, merging Catholic iconography with pre-Columbian artistic traditions.
Transformation Mask
A type of mask used by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, designed to open and close, revealing a different face or creature within.
Example:
During a ceremonial dance, a Transformation Mask might open to reveal a human face emerging from a bird's beak, symbolizing a spiritual metamorphosis.
Trapezoidal shapes
Architectural forms characterized by four-sided figures with at least one pair of parallel sides, often used by the Inca for doorways, windows, and niches to enhance structural stability.
Example:
The doorways and windows at Machu Picchu are distinctively designed with trapezoidal shapes, wider at the base and narrower at the top, a hallmark of Incan engineering.
U-shaped plans
An architectural layout featuring a central plaza flanked by two long, parallel mounds or structures, often seen in Chavín ceremonial centers.
Example:
The ceremonial center of Chavín de Huántar exemplifies the use of U-shaped plans, orienting its main structures towards a sacred river or cardinal direction.
Zoomorphic
Having or representing animal forms or gods of animal form, often combining human and animal features in art.
Example:
Many ancient Olmec colossal heads feature human faces with jaguar-like snarls, showcasing a zoomorphic blend of features.