Indigenous America. By Sam, Drew, Michael, Teddy, Chris, and Sean

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1 Indigenous America By Sam, Drew, Michael, Teddy, Chris, and Sean

2 Overview The Native Americans are believed to have traveled into America from East Asia through the Bering Strait and into Alaska Artistic traditions have been developed from 10,000 BCE to 1492 CE when the Europeans first came into contact with them Spiritual value is placed on animal based materials Ancient indigenous culture is still strong in the present day despite European colonization Focused on essence instead of appearance Art is active in culture North of modern mexico is considered Native North American South of the modern day USA is Ancient American

3 Northern Native Americans All of the tribal labels for these people were made by the Europeans Lived as various tribes and nations Across all Native American tribes was a worship of nature Geometric patterns and visionary figures is prominent in Native American art Most objects were made for the whole community, although some would be restricted for political and religious reasons

4 The Anasazi The dwellings were constructed and inhabited by the ancestral Puebloan people, also known as the Anasazi, between 450 CE and 1300 CE The dwellings offered protection, water, and soil The Anasazi likely chose the location for protection from enemy tribes in pre-colonial America Archaeological evidence shows that they abandoned the Cliff Dwellings in 1300 and migrated to modern day Arizona and New Mexico

5 Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings Title: Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings Location: Montezuma County, Colorado Culture: Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) Date: CE Material: Sandstone, mud mortar, wood

Civilization Located in Montezuma County, Colorado The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings are scattered throughout Mesa Verde National Park Embedded in mountains that are

6 Civilization Located in Montezuma County, Colorado The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings are scattered throughout Mesa Verde National Park Embedded in mountains that are part of a massive sandstone plateau The dwellings were constructed and inhabited by the ancestral Puebloan people, also known as the Anasazi, between 450 CE and 1300 CE

Design Made of wood skeletons surrounded by sandstone bricks and sealed with mud mortar, whereas previously the Anasazi used adobe mud brick and straw

7 Design Made of wood skeletons surrounded by sandstone bricks and sealed with mud mortar, whereas previously the Anasazi used adobe mud brick and straw The Anasazi used a system of ladders to traverse the cliff face They took advantage of the flat mountaintops and water access to plant and harvest crops.

8 The Interior: Religion Each dwelling had an underground room, called a kiva, for ceremony Each kiva had a fire pit in the center, a vent on one side, a deflector to protect the fire from air from the vent, and support for the roof. Kivas are still used in Anasazi ceremony today

9 The Interior: Decoration The living quarters have plastered murals of geometric shapes that represent the landscape, animals, and plants This tells that the Anasazi people were heavily centered on nature

10 Great Serpent Mound Title and Location: Great Serpent Mound, Adams County, Southern Ohio, Mississippian (Eastern Woodlands) Artist and Date: Unknown, possibly the Adena peoples, c C.E. Medium: Earthwork, effigy mound

Design Effigy mound which depicts an undulating serpent for over 1,300 feet Usually 20-25 feet wide at most points Holds an average height of 4 to 5 feet

11 Design Effigy mound which depicts an undulating serpent for over 1,300 feet Usually feet wide at most points Holds an average height of 4 to 5 feet The Great Serpent Mound is a winding mound of dirt, grass, soil, and earth It isn t known how long it took or what tools Native Americans used to form this

12 Function in Native American Society Exact function of the Great Serpent Mound is unknown Not much historical evidence can be found to find the function However, while we don t know the function of the Great Serpent Mound, other effigy mounds built by the Native Americans during this time illustrate strong religious beliefs It is also known that many tribes strongly believed in snakes and serpents to be supernatural creatures and beings It has also been hypothesized that the serpent represent astronomical solar and lunar phases

13 The Surrounding Populace Mounds such as these were typically built by Native Americans groups. The mysteriousness of the Great Serpent mound and the little evidence historians possess lead us to question the context of it The Native Americans who presumably built it could be considered strong worshippers or even intelligent astronomers

14 Ancient America Developed from around 8800 BCE to 1534 CE Each culture differs in style but emphasizes interactions with the environment surrounding them This includes the Andes Mountain range, the desert coast, and the Amazon Community centric culture Traded exotic materials based on a hierarchal system Feathers, textiles, and green stone (as well as the color green) were at the top Metal, bone, and stone were middle class Ceramics and wood were the lower class

15 Chavin De Huantar Located in the Ancash region of Peru Dates back to at least 3000 BCE Created by the Chavin culture

16 Organization Contains a flat-topped temple surrounded by many other platforms Large open plaza thought to have been used for religious ceremonies The site was built in many stages Temple is broken into two; the old temple and the new temple

17 Lanzon Stela 15 ft. wedge shaped stone containing the image of a supernatural being The image on the stone is thought to depict the god for whom the temple was created The design of the stone indicates that it may have been used some type of ceremony that involved the pouring of liquid Figure has a mixture of human and animal features People went on pilgrimages to see the stone Few people had access

18 Relief Sculpture Lanzon art was designed to be confusing because non-believers would not understand the meaning of the art The sculptures often contained repeated designs Sculpture inside the temple may have also helped with acoustics

Nose Ornament Contains same motif as the Lanzon stela Would have been worn by a wealthy/powerful person to show their power One of the earliest known

19 Nose Ornament Contains same motif as the Lanzon stela Would have been worn by a wealthy/powerful person to show their power One of the earliest known objects that combined religion and wealth Formed with cut gold Gold jewelry was a symbol of status and allowed people to transform into sacred beings

Sculptures are usually part of architectural pieces such as lintels and jambs Commonly used combed roofs and corbeled

20 The Mayans The Mayans lived in Mesoamerica which spanned from Central Mexico to the uppermost parts of South America Feathers, jade, and jaguar skin were valuable objects in Mayan society Preferred narratives in relief sculpture Sculptures are usually part of architectural pieces such as lintels and jambs Commonly used combed roofs and corbeled vaulting Mayan pyramids were typically set in wide plazas and accompanied by temples Temples looked larger than they could fit

21 Yaxchilan Located in Chiapas Mexico by the Usumacinta River Center of Mayan civilization from between CE Most buildings are made of limestone Many sculptures found appear to be designed to receive offerings

22 Yaxchilan (Structure 40) Built by Bird Jaguar IV Stucco roof comb that is prominent in mayan architecture Contains stellae that depict Bird Jaguar towering over his enemies Flourished from 300 CE to 800 CE

Lintel 25, Structure 23 The lintels in this civilization all reveal aspects of Mayan culture This one represents a bloodletting ritual Bloodletting was a way through which the Mayans paid homage to

23 Lintel 25, Structure 23 The lintels in this civilization all reveal aspects of Mayan culture This one represents a bloodletting ritual Bloodletting was a way through which the Mayans paid homage to their gods The woman, Lady Xook holds a bowl of her blood out to the gods, one of which is rising out of a serpent s mouth Lady Xook is envisioning a Teotihuacan Serpent which may be an ancestral spirit Combines script and imagery The script is written as a mirror image

24 Structure 33 Also built by Bird Jaguar IV Created several monuments to legitimize his rule after his father died Has three entrances. Not very deep nor tall Roof is designed in the form of an interlocked lattice known as a roof comb Stuccoed Corbel arch interior

25 The Aztecs Frequently use gold jewelry, jade, and turquoise Violent culture in terms of rituals, of which often had to do with blood Sacrificed people to the gods in efforts to Bled themselves intentionally to induce hallucinations as attempts to communicate with the gods Coyolxauhqui was a god made from dismembered human parts

Ruler s Feather Headdress Title and Location: Ruler s Feather Headdress (probably of Motecuhzoma II), Mexico Artist and Date: The Aztecs (an ethnic

26 Ruler s Feather Headdress Title and Location: Ruler s Feather Headdress (probably of Motecuhzoma II), Mexico Artist and Date: The Aztecs (an ethnic group in Mesoamerica during the 14th-16th centuries), Medium: Original - quetzal, cotinga, feathers, wood, fibers, paper, cotton, gold, gilded brass

Form The Ruler s Feather Headdress has a base made of valuable materials such as gold, gilded brass, and potentially other metals Protruding vertically from the base are many green and colorful

27 Form The Ruler s Feather Headdress has a base made of valuable materials such as gold, gilded brass, and potentially other metals Protruding vertically from the base are many green and colorful feathers, presumably quetzal feathers Green is an important color in Aztec culture The headdress most likely belonged to a very powerful ruler This can be inferred to due its vibrant color and the quality of metals used

Origin Most likely originated in the traditions of Mesoamerican tribes, primarily the Aztecs Headdress is assumed to have been a symbol of the immense power, wealth, and fortune of Moctezuma II and

28 Origin Most likely originated in the traditions of Mesoamerican tribes, primarily the Aztecs Headdress is assumed to have been a symbol of the immense power, wealth, and fortune of Moctezuma II and his Aztec kingdom The Headdress is commonly thought to have been Moctezuma II s Not certain as to whether the headdress actually belonged to Moctezuma II or not Thought to be of Moctezuma II due to his immense power Widely believed that the headdress was sent to Europe by Hernan Cortes during his conquest of Mexico

29 Templo Mayor (Main) Form: Pyramid shaped structure with two sets of stairs and four tier Topped with two temples to the war god Huitzilopochtli and the rain god Tlaloc Center point of Tenochtitlan and the entire Aztec Empire Placed so the sun rises in between the two temples on the spring and autumn equinoxes Function: Site of many human sacrifices to the gods it was dedicated to

30 Templo Mayor (continued) Content: Topped with two temples to the war god Huitzilopochtli and the rain god Tlaloc Context: Constructed during the reign of Itzcoatl between 1427 and 1440 CE

The Coyolxauhqui Stone Form: Circular relief sculpture Volcanic Stone Originally painted red yellow and blue Function: Aztecs often threw people down the steps of temple after

31 The Coyolxauhqui Stone Form: Circular relief sculpture Volcanic Stone Originally painted red yellow and blue Function: Aztecs often threw people down the steps of temple after they were sacrificed and the stone was almost like a target Content: Depiction of dismembered body of Aztec goddess Coyolxauhqui Context: Made around 1500 in Aztec Tenochtitlan

32 Calendar Stone Form: Carved Basalt Function: Site of rituals on specific days Meant to represent rulership and legitimize the the power of Itzcoatl Leader in 1427 CE (the date shown on the top of the stone) An altar to murder victims who would then be thrown down the temple

Calendar Stone (continued) Content: Depiction of five consecutive worlds in Aztec mythology Central face depicting either the Tonatiuh, Yohualtonatiuh or Tlalecuhtli Two jaguar paws

33 Calendar Stone (continued) Content: Depiction of five consecutive worlds in Aztec mythology Central face depicting either the Tonatiuh, Yohualtonatiuh or Tlalecuhtli Two jaguar paws on either side of the central face clutch a heart representing the terrestrial realm Context: Made in Aztec times around the same time the Templo Mayor and Coyolxauhqui stone were made

34 Olmec Style Mask Form: Serpentine Stone Function: Mask worn around the next to give identity of an ancestor of a god Content: Frowning face, aggressive appearance, heavy lidded eyes Glyphs define four quarters of the world with the king in the center Context: Made in Olmec times prior to Aztec rule

35 The Inca Commonly used Ashlar Masonry Buildings taper upwards like a trapezoid The Inkan empire stretched from Chile to Colombia and was linked by a chain of roads which allowed easy communication between cities The Inca had no written language so much about their culture is determined from their archaeological remains

36 City of Cusco Built by the Inca people who Lived in Peru Frequently used ashlar masonry in their work Had no written language Built around 1440 C.E. out of andesite in the Central Highlands of Peru. Capital of the Inca Empire until the capture of the city in 1532 by the Spaniards. Divided into sections based off of hierarchy. Imperial tax was paid by precious materials or manual labor The city is also laid out in the shape of a puma to represent the power of the empire, being that it was the largest in the world.

Qorikancha The most valued part of the City of Cusco was Qorikancha. Built of finely cut stones that were fitted together without mortar along with gold decoration.

37 Qorikancha The most valued part of the City of Cusco was Qorikancha. Built of finely cut stones that were fitted together without mortar along with gold decoration. Seen as the center of the world to the Incas and contained temples for each of the main deities in their society. Dedicated to Inti, the sun. Worshippers often approached the temple barefooted after fasting

38 Santa Domingo After the Spanish takeover, Qorikancha was turned into a Christian monastery and church called Santo Domingo Was built on top of the original structure.

39 Walls At Saqsa Waman Saqsa Waman is a system of walls located on the northern edge of Cusco Largest structure built by the Incas. Zigzag pattern with three main levels Built for 50 years of massive stones that were cut, carried and placed by 20,000 men Used as protection to the city from Spanish invasion but were never completed.

40 Bibliography Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings. Smarthistory. Khan Academy. n.d. Accessed October 29, 2016 Cliff Dwellings. National Park Service. N.d. Accessed October 29, Mesa Verde National Park. Encyclopedia Britannica, Accessed October 29, 2016 Cartwright, Mark. "Cusco." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., 30 Jan Web. 30 Oct < "City of Cusco." Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct < "Cusco." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 30 Oct < "Coyolxauhqui Stone." Omeka RSS. Fordham, n.d. Web. 31 Oct Mark Cartwright. Coyolxauhqui, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 11, /Coyolxauhqui/. Kilroy-Ewbank, Lauren. "Emplo Mayor at Tenochtitlan, the Coyolxauhqui Stone, and an Olmec Mask." Khan Academy. KhanAcademy, n.d. Web. 31 Oct

AP Art History Presentation. By: Emmarie Moran

AP Art History Presentation. By: Emmarie Moran AP Art History Presentation By: Emmarie Moran Required Works: Chavin de Huantar Plan Lanzon Stela Relief Sculpture Nose Ornament Yaxchilan Structure 40 Lintel 25 Structure 33 Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings