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