Item number: G12

Year: 700-300 BC

The results after XRF testing

Material: 20ct Gold

Size: 55.7 x 43.6 x 8.8 mm

Weight: 26.45 g

Provenance:

1. Woolley & Wallis 2023

2. The Romy Rey Collection (Part 3)

This is a gold pendant from the pre-Columbian Chavín culture, dating to 700–300 BC and excavated in Peru. The pendant is shaped to resemble the paw of a feline, with decorative elements consisting of a four-petal flower stamped at the centre of one side and a geometric motif on the other.

Felines played a significant role in Chavín culture, as evidenced by numerous feline motifs discovered in excavated artefacts and architectural elements. The flexible bodies of felines and their status as apex predators led the Chavín people to revere their immense power. It is believed that, with cactus-derived extracts, individuals could transcend their human state during religious ceremonies, enabling communication with felines and supernatural forces.

The Chavín culture was an ancient Andean civilisation that flourished between 900 BC and 200 BC, centred in northern Peru, preceding both Columbus’ discovery of the Americas and the rise of the Inca Empire, the dominant power of the Andes. Chavín society was organised around ceremonial centres, such as temples dedicated to the “Lanzón” stone idol, and is noted for its advanced stone carving, metallurgical techniques, and religious rituals, which exerted significant influence on surrounding cultures. Archaeologists refer to it as the most advanced civilisation of the “Early Horizon Period” in the Andes. However, between 500 BC and 400 BC, Chavín society may have experienced a transition from theocratic to secular governance, leading to a period of intense warfare and instability. By 200 BC, the Chavín culture ultimately declined. Nevertheless, the Chavín dae Huántar archaeological site has been remarkably preserved and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in AD 1985.

物件編號: G12

年代: 公元前 700-300 年

XRF分析結果:

材質: 20ct 金

尺寸: 55.7 x 43.6 x 8.8 mm

重量: 26.45 g

來源:

1. 威力士拍賣行 2023

2. 羅米．雷舊藏 (Part 3)

這是一枚公元前700至300年，出土自秘魯的前哥倫布時期查文文化黃金吊墜。吊墜的外觀臨摹貓科動物的腳掌，並且在腳掌的正反面中央，分別打印四瓣花和幾何圖騰作為裝飾。

貓科動物在查文文化中扮演重要的角色，考古學家從出土的文物和建築上發現諸多貓科動物的意象。貓科動物靈活的身軀和扮演頂級掠食者的角色，讓查文文化的先民崇拜其強大的力量，並且相信藉由從仙人掌提煉的汁液，能讓凡人在宗教儀式中成為貓科動物和超自然力量交流。

查文文化是哥倫布發現美洲新大陸，乃至安地斯山脈的霸主印加帝國崛起前，活躍於公元前900至200年間，以秘魯北部為核心的古代印地安文明。查文文化以供奉著「蘭松」石雕神像的神廟為聚落中心，並且掌握先進的石雕、冶金工藝和宗教儀禮影響周遭人群，是考古學家稱呼的「早期視野時期」最為先進的安地斯文明。然而在公元前500至400年間，查文文化有可能歷經從神權轉移至世俗政府的權力變化，使得該時期的環境陷入高度的戰爭和動盪，最終於公元前200年之際消亡。不過查文文化的查文德萬塔爾遺址被完整保留下來，並且於公元1985年登錄為聯合國教科文組織的世界遺產。