Philosophy

Reconstructing The Pre-Columbian World

In the last several decades, archaeologists in the Americas have unearthed a large amount of archaeological data and extended our knowledge about pre-Columbian cultures. Excavations in Middle and South America have revealed the foundations of temples, palaces and administrative buildings, found colorful mural paintings and scuptures, and excavated exquisite gold and ceramic objects that had been deposited in dedicatory caches and tombs. When artifacts are covered most are with earth; they are broken and damaged, collapsed, and badly deteriorated. The once brightly painted murals are faded, the stucco friezes are broken, and the golden surface of gilded copper and bronze jewelry is covered with green patina. The ancient aya cities are now overgrown by jungle, making it difficult to imagine their splendor 1500 years ago. Gardens and zoos of the huge Aztec palaces once spread across the areas that are now the location of the National Palace of Mexico City. The dull colors of suits and ties have now replaced the sunlight reflected by thousands of gold plaques that originally covered the shirt of a Moche lord.

In this context, pictorial reconstructions play a critical role in the interpretation of the archaeological record. A painted reconstruction can combine all the information we have about a site or an event and compress it into one picture. Mural paintings and sculptures that have been faded by rain and sunlight can be shown with their original colors. Collapsed roofs can be reconstructed to reveal impressive angles and decorative elements. Gold plaques delicately sewn onto now vanished textiles can be depicted in their scintillating radiance. Microscopic traces of feathers can be reconstructed as iridescent plumage of parrots mounted elegantly on a headdress of gold and silver.

 

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