Andean Inca 3

Summary

This script delves into the exquisite Inca gold work, predominantly from money bundles, and the conquistadors' focus on such treasures. It revisits Andean ceramics, highlighting a 15th-century piece exemplifying superb craftsmanship and the Cuzco style. The script describes a ceremonial vessel used for pouring sacred liquids, adorned with animal figures symbolizing the Inca Empire's diverse regions. It also discusses the 'ari bios' storage jar, its functionality, and the significance of its design. The video touches on Inca religious practices, including human and child sacrifice, and the concept of cultural relativism. It showcases various artifacts like mummy bundles, votive figures, and a detailed cast silver llama, explaining the casting and repoussé techniques used in their creation.

Takeaways

• 🏺 The Inca civilization produced exquisite gold work, much of which was focused on by conquistadors like Pizarro.
• 🎨 Ceramics from the Andean groups, particularly the Cuzco style from the early 15th century, were of superb craftsmanship with limited forms but unique designs.
• 🐫 A creative Inca ceramic example includes a bowl with animal figures serving as pouring spouts, symbolizing the diverse environments of the Inca Empire.
• 🍶 The Inca used special vessels for pouring sacred liquids like chicha, a corn beer, for fertility and crop growth.
• 🗝️ The 'Ari bios', a storage jar from the Cuzco area, was used for transporting and storing fermented beverages and other items.
• 🌐 The spread of Cuzco-style ceramics indicates extensive trade and cultural exchange across the Andean region.
• 🌟 The Inca revered the sun and moon, practiced human sacrifice, and had a complex religious system with shamans and priests.
• 👶 The concept of cultural relativism is important when discussing practices like child sacrifice in the Inca culture.
• 🪦 Mummy bundles from the Inca civilization reveal the significance of textiles and the preservation of grave goods.
• 🏺 Gold and silver votive figures, often found in mummy bundles, were used for spiritual purposes and were crafted using casting techniques.
• 🔩 Casting techniques like the lost wax process and repoussé were used to create intricate metalwork in Inca culture.

Q & A

What was the primary focus of the conquistadors like Pizarro in the Inca Empire?

The primary focus of the conquistadors, including Pizarro, was on the Inca gold.

How was Inca ceramic production controlled?

Inca ceramic production was controlled by the state, and items made and used in Cuzco were known as the Cuzco style.

What is the significance of the unique Inca ceramic bowl with animal figures?

The bowl with animal figures, including a llama and a bird, served as a ceremonial vessel for pouring sacred liquids like chicha onto the earth for fertility and crop growth. The animals may symbolize the diverse environments and regions of the Inca Empire.

What is an 'ari bios' and how was it used?

An 'ari bios' is a storage jar developed in the Cuzco area, used for storing and transporting fermented corn beer and other items. It has a large body, low-lying handles, a long neck, and a pointed base for stability when set into the ground.

What is the cultural significance of the lug on the 'ari bios' jar?

The lug on the 'ari bios' is a bump typically carved into the shape of an animal head, used for threading ropes through it to carry the jar on the backs of porters or llamas.

How were the Inca's religious practices reflected in their artifacts?

Inca religious practices are reflected in artifacts such as mummy bundles and votive figures, indicating a complex belief system with human sacrifice, shamans, and a pantheon of gods.

What is the meaning behind the preservation of child mummies in Inca culture?

In Inca culture, the preservation of child mummies signifies the most sacred act a family could perform, showing the utmost devotion and not a lack of love for the child.

What is the purpose of votive figures in Inca culture?

Votive figures in Inca culture were used for spiritual purposes, similar to votive candles in Catholic churches, and were often placed in graves as offerings.

How was the silver llama figure with inlay work created?

The silver llama figure was created using a combination of casting and inlay work, with hammered metal sheets shaped and bent to form the figure, and then inlay work was added for detail.

What is the lost wax process mentioned in the script, and how was it used in Inca culture?

The lost wax process is a casting technique used to create detailed metal figures. It involves creating a wax model, embedding it in a heat-resistant substance, and pouring molten metal into the mold to replace the wax, which is then removed, leaving the metal figure.

Outlines

00:00

🏺 Inca Ceramics and Goldwork

The paragraph discusses the exquisite Inca goldwork and the prevalence of gold in money bundles due to the conquistadors' focus on it. It revisits the topic of Andean ceramics, highlighting a unique 15th-century Inca ceramic piece from the Cuzco style. This piece, used for ceremonial purposes, features a bowl with animal figures as pouring spouts and is painted with black slip and red over a buff terra cotta color. The animals are believed to symbolize the diverse regions of the Inca Empire. The paragraph also introduces the 'ari bios' storage jar, used for transporting and storing fermented corn beer and other items, with a unique shape and a lug for carrying.

05:01

👶 Inca Religious Practices and Artifacts

This paragraph delves into Inca religious practices, including human and child sacrifice, and the role of shamans or priests. It emphasizes the concept of cultural relativism, suggesting that child sacrifice, while repugnant to modern sensibilities, was considered a sacred act by the Incas. The discussion includes the preservation of a mummy bundle and the significance of textiles in Inca culture. It also describes various gold and silver votive figures, including a silver llama with inlay work, and explains the casting technique used to create these artifacts. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of the repousse technique, used for creating detailed metalwork.

10:02

⚒️ Metalworking Techniques in Inca Culture

The final paragraph briefly mentions the use of metalworking techniques in creating representative models, suggesting a continuation of the discussion on Inca craftsmanship and the techniques used to produce their intricate metal artifacts.

Keywords

💡Inca Gold Work

Inca Gold Work refers to the intricate and artistic metalwork produced by the Inca civilization, known for its high quality and aesthetic appeal. In the video, it is mentioned that the conquistadors were primarily focused on acquiring this gold, highlighting its value and significance. The script also discusses how the majority of the surviving examples come from money bundles, indicating the practical use of gold in Inca society.

💡Ceramics

Ceramics in the context of the video refers to the pottery and earthenware created by the Inca people. The script revisits this topic to emphasize the importance of ceramics in Inca culture, showcasing a specific 15th-century example that exemplifies the superb craftsmanship and creativity of Inca artisans. The example given is a unique vessel with animal figures that served as pouring spouts, illustrating the artistic and functional aspects of Inca ceramics.

💡Cusco Style

The term 'Cusco Style' is used in the video to describe the distinctive artistic and design characteristics of objects produced in the Inca capital of Cuzco. This style is characterized by a limited range of forms and designs, yet it is unique, appealing, and creative. The script mentions that items made in Cuzco were known for their quality and were named accordingly, indicating a form of early branding or origin marking.

💡Sacred Liquids

Sacred Liquids, such as chicha (a corn beer), are discussed in the video as part of Inca ceremonial practices. The unique ceramic vessel described in the script was used for pouring these liquids onto the earth to ensure fertility and abundant crops. This practice reflects the deep connection between the Inca people and their environment, as well as their belief in the power of rituals to influence natural outcomes.

💡Ari Bio

An 'Ari Bio' is a type of storage jar mentioned in the script, known for its distinctive shape developed in the Cuzco area. These jars were used for storing and transporting fermented corn beer and other items. The script describes the jar's features, such as its large body, low-lying handles, and pointed base for stability, providing insight into the practical aspects of Inca pottery design.

💡Lug

A 'Lug' is a small bump or projection on the Inca pottery, often carved into the shape of an animal head. As described in the script, it served a functional purpose by having ropes passed through it for carrying the jars, either by human porters or llamas. This detail illustrates the practical and aesthetic integration in Inca craftwork.

💡Polychrome

Polychrome refers to the use of multiple colors in artwork, which is evident in the Inca ceramics discussed in the video. The script mentions a beautiful polychrome geometric pattern painted on the pottery, indicating the Inca's advanced knowledge of color and design in their artistic creations.

💡Cultural Relativism

Cultural Relativism is a concept discussed in the video in relation to understanding and interpreting the practices of different cultures, such as the Inca. The script uses the example of child sacrifice, a practice that, while repugnant by modern standards, was considered a sacred act by the Inca. This concept encourages viewers to consider the cultural context and significance of such practices rather than judging them solely by contemporary values.

💡Mummy Bundle

A 'Mummy Bundle' is a term used in the video to describe the method of preserving and burying the dead, particularly children, in the Inca culture. The script describes a mummy bundle with an extreme state of preservation, highlighting the importance of textiles and the care taken in wrapping the deceased, which reflects the cultural values and beliefs surrounding death and afterlife.

💡Votive Figures

Votive Figures are small, often cast, figures used for spiritual or religious purposes. In the video, the script describes gold and silver votive figures found in Inca burial sites, dressed in textiles and used as grave goods. These figures, sometimes containing other materials like coca leaves, were offerings made to the deceased or deities, indicating the spiritual and ritualistic aspects of Inca culture.

💡Casting Technique

The 'Casting Technique', specifically the lost wax process, is a method of creating metal objects that is mentioned in the video. The script explains how this technique was used to make intricate Inca gold and silver figures, involving creating a wax model, embedding it in a heat-resistant material, and pouring molten metal into the mold. This process is a testament to the advanced metallurgical skills of the Inca artisans.

Highlights

Examples of beautiful Inca gold work are primarily from money bundles due to the conquistadors' focus on Inca gold.

Inca ceramic production was state-controlled, with items from Cuzco known as the Cuzco style.

A 15th-century ceramic piece showcases superb craftsmanship with a limited range of forms and designs.

A unique ceramic piece features a shallow, in-curved bowl with animal-shaped pouring spouts.

The vessel is slip painted in black with red over a buff terra cotta color, adorned with segmented bands of insects.

The piece is a ceremonial vessel used for pouring sacred liquids like chicha for ensuring fertility and crop growth.

Animals depicted on the vessel may symbolize the diverse environments and regions of the Inca Empire.

A storage jar called an ari bios, developed in the Cuzco area, was used for storing and transporting fermented corn beer.

Ari bios jars feature a pointed base for stability when set into soft earth.

The jars have a lug for attaching ropes, indicating they were carried by porters or llamas.

Cuzco-style ceramics were transported great distances, indicating extensive trade and cultural influence.

The Inca revered the sun and moon, practiced human sacrifice, and had a complex religious system with shamans and priests.

Child sacrifice in Inca culture was considered a sacred act, reflecting deep familial love and commitment.

A mummy bundle reveals the extreme preservation state of a child, along with grave goods like gold figures and a silver llama.

Votive figures, cast from gold, were used for spiritual purposes and often dressed in textiles.

A cast silver figure with ear flares and a headdress is an example of the casting technique used in Inca culture.

Casting technique, known as the lost wax process, involved creating a wax model, embedding it in a higher melting point substance, and pouring molten metal.

Repousée technique involved hammering and bending sheets of metal to create detailed designs, as seen in a cast llama with inlay work.

Transcripts

the examples of beautiful inca gold work

but the majority seems to be coming from

money bundles because pisarro

and the other conquistadors their

primary focus was on

the inca gold we will talk about this in

our conversation about the contact

period

but we can't leave our andean groups

without revisiting

ceramics one more time this is a

fascinating example from the early 15th

century

quite large about three

by five inches across

inca ceramic production was controlled

by the state as was so much

so things that were made and used in

cusco

were known as the cusco style and that's

what you see here

and that naming system is going to carry

over into

the post contact period as well

this is a time of superb craftsmanship

but there is a limited range of forms

and designs

unique and appealing and creative

and this is an example that falls into

that very creative

category this is a shallow slightly

in curved bowl that sits on three little

supports

with a smaller bowl inside there are two

long-necked animals a llama and a bird

they're attached on one side

and they connect the inner and outer

bowls respectively they serve

as pouring spouts there is a slender

spotted body of a third animal maybe

some kind of cat

that's draped over part of the larger

bowl and his paws then gripping the rim

and of course this is the moment that i

love right here

the vessel is slip painted in black

with red over a buff terra cotta color

and we see segmented bands with insects

around the lower portion of the bowl

this is a ceremonial vessel used for

pouring

sacred liquids such as chicha which is a

corn beer

onto the earth to ensure fertility and

to grow

plentiful crops scholars think that the

animals here

may refer to the diverse environment and

regions of the inca empire

a seabird referring to the ocean

the llama referring to the highlands and

the big cat referring to the rain forest

to the east

this is a fascinating shape that we

really haven't encountered

before a storage jar known as an ari

bios

a-r-y-b-a-l-l-o-s

again in the early 15th century

this is a shape developed in the cusco

area known as the cusco bottle

and it borrows that name so scholars get

that ari bios name

borrowing it from the greek

these are found from four inches high to

45 inches high

and it has this very large

body with low lying

handles a long neck that curves to a

thin lip

with a moderate sized mouth the

interesting things happen down at the

foot

where it tapers to the point and that

pointed base would allow it to be set

into the soft earth for stability

these were created by the large number

and used for storage and transportation

of not only the fermented corn beer but

other things

as well but what's really interesting is

centered right where the neck meets the

shoulder of the pot is this little bump

called a lug lug and they're generally

carved into the shape of an animal head

and this would have had a set of ropes

pulled through it

and then the ropes would be secured uh

to be carried either on the backs of

porchers human porters or perhaps

on the side of a llama we've got a

beautiful polychrome

geometric pattern painted in slip

and these examples that are made in

cusco in this cusco style can be

found all over the andean region so they

would have been transported great

distances

so we know that the sun and the moon are

both sacred

to the inca and we know that they have a

pantheon so they've got

many gods in their religious world we

know

that they practice human sacrifice

and that there are shamans or priests

that cater to the masses but then also

cater directly to

the personal worship needs of the inca

emperors

as well one of the things that we

discuss

in the early cultures is the concept of

cultural relativism and we'll discuss

this

when we get to the aztec as well of

course the

idea of child sacrifice is completely

repugnant to us in the 21st century

but what you need to remember is that a

family who would give their

child for religious sacrifice that would

have been the most sacred

act that the family ever did they did

not take it lightly and it doesn't mean

that they didn't love their children

they loved their children the most of

all and that is how they would give them

in sacrifice this is a

mummy bundle that revealed a child

and you notice the extreme state of

preservation

of this mummy bundle the little objects

that you see below

were wrapped up in the layers of the

textiles so the textiles

maintain that significance as they have

with other

culture groups and they survive in good

condition

so objects like these little gold

figures

the silver llama that we'll take a

better look at in just a moment

here is a close-up of these votive

figures so a votive means something that

is for

spiritual purpose if you go into a

catholic church you'll see votive

candles they're made for saying prayers

for remembrances and so these are cast

from gold we'll talk about casting

technique here

generally these are about three or four

inches high and they are solid

these are grave goods and they're almost

always dressed in textiles

and that's what you will see happening

in examples

like what you see here so what we've got

is

a silver figure

so this is a cast silver figure you

notice that he's

he's uh was fitted with ear flares he's

got a headdress

on and on the right then is his

attire the clothing that he would have

worn so this

little outfit would have been on this

figure and then wrapped

in this larger textile and tied with the

knotted cord

this little bag here is what's called a

cocoa bag for carrying

the coca leaf the figure is about two

and a half

inches high and this what would have

been used as

an offering the little figure

evidently contains about seven sheets of

mixed

metals he's got his engraved headband

and the textile is divided into that

familiar four

quadrant design

this particular example is the one found

in the

child sacrifice mummy bundle that i

showed you a moment ago

and you can see a figure that is made

from silver

a amazing feather headdress

uh he is about uh

seven inches high and then he has all of

this attire

on him which is in amazing condition

here then is a detail of this wonderful

cast llama

with inlay work so he's made from silver

and then they've done some carving and

some inlay work

and i love the proportion i love the

expression

on the face of the llama and and the way

that their ears stand up

let's talk briefly about casting

this is a technique that's used across

time in culture

it's often referred to as the lost wax

process

so you're going to make the figure in

the shape that you want in a wax or

clay-like substance you're going to

embed it

in a substance that has a higher melting

point than the metal that you're using

you're going to attach a little device

called a sprue which acts like a funnel

so the molten liquid will be poured

through

the top of the compound it travels down

the sprue and then fills the space

and that is how this little object was

made so he is

cast from silver and then our other

technique that we see

is called reposse and so this little

llama who also has he looks very

irritated by the whole process

this was made from sheets of hammered

metal

so hammered and bent and then these

beautiful in

sized lines we call it by the term that

we use today

reposse which is you can go to the craft

store and buy gold or silver or copper

and you can create a represent model

today