Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen’s Park
Toronto
416-586-8000
Ancient Peru Unearthed: Golden Treasures of a Lost Civilization
March 10-
August 6, 2007

Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is pleased to present Ancient Peru Unearthed: Golden Treasures of a Lost Civilization, features approximately 120 objects — most of which are gold — including ceremonial regalia, headdresses, jewellery, and ornaments. Mainly showcasing objects that were excavated over two decades from an undisturbed tomb, Ancient Peru Unearthed originates from Peru’s Sicán National Museum, in co-operation with Calgary’s Nickle Arts Museum. This exclusive tour gives North Americans their first look at the magnificent objects, the little-known civilization that produced them, and the unique circumstances of their discovery.

The dynamic and creative Sicán culture flourished in Peru from AD 800 to AD 1375. The Sicán were skilled metallurgists, traders and seafarers, their trade routes spanning 1,000 kilometres up and down the northern Andean coast. The Sicán also controlled a large expanse of coastal desert and abundant river valleys in northern Peru. This culture is notable for its sophisticated and distinctive art, pottery, architecture and religious artifacts. However, beyond these artifacts left behind, little is known of the Sicán. Popular knowledge of ancient Peru generally focuses on the Incas who ruled the area at the time of European contact. While the Sicán produced up to 85 percent of Peru’s gold artifacts still in existence, this intricate metallurgical work is often attributed to the Incas, a civilization that thrived nearly one 100 years following the Sicán.

One reason behind the sparse knowledge of the Sicán culture is the extensive looting of tombs that has taken place along the northern coast of Peru. Ancient Peru Unearthed is exceptional because its contents are from Batán Grande, one of the few major burial sites in Peru to be completely excavated by archaeologists. Since the material here was scientifically uncovered, contextual information about the artifacts is available. The placement of the objects and human remains provided valuable information about the Sicán culture. Ancient Peru Unearthed introduces this intriguing civilization and the magnificent artwork it left behind.

The exhibition is comprised mainly of objects excavated from a significant tomb at Huaca Loro, thought by many archaeologists to be a royal burial place. It was uncovered by the world’s leading expert on Sicán culture, Dr. Izumi Shimada, formerly of Harvard University’s Peabody Museum and now with Southern Illinois University, who led a team of American, European and Peruvian archaeologists. Digging at the Batán Grande site since 1978, the archaeologists discovered this undisturbed gold-filled tomb in 1991. Referred to as the East Tomb, the elaborate burial site of an elite Sicán male (known throughout the exhibition as "the Sicán Lord") revealed new insights into the mysteries of the Sicán. The bodies of two women and two children were placed in close proximity to the Sicán Lord. The Sicán Lord’s body was covered with cinnabar paint, a highly toxic red pigment which was restricted to members of the Sicán elite. Its red colour may have symbolized blood, a vital liquid representing both life and birth. The inverted burial position of the Sicán Lord, in addition to the positions of the two women buried with him, suggests that his burial symbolised rebirth.

An expansive complex of adobe pyramids and plazas, Batán Grande was the Sicán religious centre and the main burial ground. The ornately crafted objects found in the tomb confirm that the Incas were not the only highly developed Pre-Columbian culture in South America. Further, Sicán metallurgy is now seen as the pinnacle of Andean metallurgy in terms of craftsmanship, surpassing that of the Incas.

The East Tomb, 11 metres below ground level and about three metres square, contained a remarkable amount of artifacts, including almost 100 personal ornaments and ritual objects made of 14 to 18 karat gold, about 50 kilograms of beads, and hundreds of bronze implements. Altogether, these goods weigh approximately 1.2 tons, of which three quarters are precious metals and bronze.

To chronologically position the Sicán civilization, the ROM visitor will enjoy a display of several objects from the Museum’s own renowned collections. Prior to entering Ancient Peru Unearthed, visitors will encounter the ROM’s Ancient Civilizations of the Peruvian North Coast, illustrating the history of the ancient civilizations of the North Coast of Peru, from the Moche (AD 200-800) to Sicán (AD 800-1375) to the Chimú (AD 1375-1450) and to the Chimú-Inca (AD 1450-1532). A gold Sicán mask, a silver Inca mask, a number of ceramic vessels, plus a stunning Inca feather mantle, similar to a poncho, are among these relevant objects featured in the ROM’s display. Added to this ROM original showcase are artifacts on loan from the Linden Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. These loaned objects include an almost whimsical head of a fox, complete with protruding tongue as well as two gold funerary masks. One of these masks, dating to Moche II (AD 300-400), was discovered in a royal tomb at Huaca de la Luna. Tattoos, a common art form among the Moche, cover the face of the man depicted in this mask.

Three Sican Lords Dressed as Dieties, Cut Out, Gold, Height: 11 cm, Width: 8 cm.

Moche Inspired Vessel, Ceramic, Height: 30.7 cm, Diameter: 24.3 cm, Weight: 1559.2 g.

Spool Earrings with Turquoise, Gold, turquoise, Diameter of each: 10
cm (anterior), 7.2 cm (posterior), Weight: 77.5 g.

Sican ceremonial headdress, detail.

Ancient Peru Unearthed is comprised of a series of themed sections in which the tomb’s objects tell the story of the Sicán. Introduction to the Sicán establishes that the Middle Sicán era (AD 900-1100), the time of the East Tomb’s origin, was a time of unprecedented cultural success with a distinct political and social organization. Skilled artisans produced complex metal works and superior blackware ceramics, which were often used in religious rituals. The Sicán were also highly skilled in producing bronze and are now credited with introducing northern Peru into the Bronze Age. An array of representative Sicán artifacts is displayed in this area.

Archaeological Discoveries in the Sicán Capital City demonstrates how the archaeological excavation has increased our understanding of the Sicán people. Looting of tombs had reached unprecedented levels by the early 20th century, with Peruvian antiquities filling North American and European museums and private collections. As these looted objects lacked the provenance so crucial in understanding their cultural significance, a relative obscurity of the Sicán culture had resulted in the scientific community. By the time Dr. Shimada began his dig in 1978, looters had left behind more than 100,000 pits in the region. It is due to Dr. Shimada and his team’s Sicán Archaeological Project that the Sicán are now recognized as a significant culture in Peruvian history. This section features a scale model of the East Tomb to enrich the visitor’s understanding of the excavation process.

In Trade and Society, visitors learn that the materials used to produce objects for the Sicán elite were difficult to obtain. The control of an extensive trade network gave certain individuals, such as the Sicán Lord, access to prized materials which granted great social power. An array of stunning Ecuadorian and Colombian shells and beads is showcased in this section.

Technology examines the techniques used by the Sicán to create the extraordinary objects uncovered in elite tombs. Intricate metal working and ceramic techniques are highlighted. The Sicán developed a complex metallurgical tradition, unprecedented in Andean history. A large number of people engaged in metalworking and these skilled workers were capable of producing astonishingly thin and uniform gold sheets of 0.1 millimetres in thickness, a feat still difficult to reproduce using today’s modern technology.

Symbols and World View highlights the icons revered in Sicán culture and rituals. Avian motifs were powerful symbols as were water images. It is evident that the Sicán were both blessed and cursed by the rivers and rains. The most important motif was the Sicán Deity, perhaps representative of the legend of Naymlap, a leader who is said to have arrived by sea with a fleet of boats, his own royal retinue and a female green stone idol to establish a new civilization. Naymlap built temples and palaces near the sea. On his death, Naymlap was entombed and his spirit was said to fly away. The region was successfully governed by Naymlap's twelve grandsons, until one of them was enticed by a witch to move the green stone idol. Legend has it that this act provoked a month of heavy rains and flashfloods, much like the effects of El Niño today, bringing great disease and death in its wake. A reproduction of a frieze illustrating the Sicán Deity and other key Sicán symbols is included in this section.

The Power and Pageantry section features objects found directly buried with the Sicán Lord as well as other awe-inspiring objects of ceremonial regalia. The ceremonial dress of the Sicán Lord, mainly comprised of gold and silver, was likely adorned with colourful feathers. The mythical Sicán Deity was often depicted with both human and avian features including wings and talons, while the earthly ruler, the Sicán Lord, is sometimes represented with false wings on his back.

This section leads visitors to the exhibition’s highlight object: the Sicán Lord’s mask. The magnificent object is featured on its own; according it the importance and status it enjoyed in the Huaca Loro tomb. The mask, masterfully crafted from a single 14 karat gold sheet, is an incredible achievement. It features flawlessly executed facial features, including an attached nose ornament, and possibly represented the Sicán Deity. Placing the mask over the face of the deceased mortal Sicán Lord likely signaled his connection to the divine. The accompanying head ornament was adorned with both natural feathers and those carved from 10 karat gold sheets. When worn together, these ornaments would have added more than 40 centimetres of height to the Sicán Lord’s commanding presence.

Visitors can view an informative film in the exhibition’s mini theatre, located just inside the exhibition space. The work and discoveries of Dr. Shimada and team are highlighted in this thirteen-minute film and visitors will find it an enlightening start to their exhibition visit. For the younger visitors, an Archaeological Excavation Dig is also located within the exhibition, where children are encouraged to try their hand at “discovering” interesting artifacts.

The exhibition has a significant, and poignant, Canadian connection. Gifted Peruvian student Carlos Elera was accepted into the University of Calgary’s Department of Archaeology. Upon earning his doctorate in 1999, Elera returned home to Peru. Soon after, he was appointed the Director of the Sicán National Museum, where the artifacts traveling in this exhibition originated. Dr. Elera’s connections to Canada and Calgary have remained strong and, in appreciation, he was integral in the planning of this exclusive Canadian tour.