SCULPTURE
Cabezas Clavas (Embedded Stone Head Carvings)
There are stone heads which were found embedded in the Chavin Temple walls. They are shaped to resemble human heads, depicting a combination of feline and man. The Chavin Culture worked stone with great dexterity, carving and sculpting anthropomorphic and animal-like shapes.
A mystery...
No one knows exactly what purpose they served. These sculptures originally decorated the outer Chavin Temple walls.
Trophies or portraits?
According to the discoverer, archeologist Julio C. Tello, the sculpted heads represented trophy heads of their enemies. Other researchers believe they were portraits of Chavin priests.
CERAMICS
Some were dark gray, while others maintained the color of the clay used (monochrome black, gray and brown). They had a globular shape with a long, narrow neck and a single spout. They were decorated with feline motifs, such as jaguar designs.
TEXTILES
Tapestry fragments dyed with the fade-resistant technique with depictions of the God of Rods have been found. Red, orange, various shades of brown, olive-green and blue pigments were used.
METALLURGY
They worked gold, although gold and silver alloys have also been found. Two samples of metalwork have been found intact:
- A gold breastplate
- A thin, solid gold breastplate (the metal was pressed to form a sheet and cut).
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