George Gustav Heye

Quoted by Handler and Gable, critic Ada Louise Huxtable declares the newly constructed reproduction of Colonial Williamsburg as “too clean,” arguing that it “does not include the filth and stench that would have been commonplace.” (Source E) This sanitation of the truth completely misrepresents history, and the educational value greatly suffers. Conversely, the National Museum of the American Indian hopes to avoid this lack of judgment by dedicating itself to the “preservation, study, and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history, and Arts of Native Americans.” (Source C) The main goal of the museum is to “span all major cultural areas” (C) and educate the public about and preserve the rich history of such a vast culture. The authenticity and significance of artifacts are important to representing culture and history, and the ability of these artifacts to educate should be a key factor of the selection process.

Egyptian sculptures at the exhibition -- flown to Mexico from ancient temples along the Nile and from museums in Cairo, Luxor and Alexandria

Noble Eisenlauer, author of Review of Aztec Sculpture, “the stone mask was likely made by an Aztec artisan who most likely specialized in stone sculpture. According to Eisenlauer, Aztec sculpting was a niche art and only practiced by commoners that lived in specific Calpolli (neighborhoods) dedicated to the trade. These artisans often worked for Aztec nobleman, and although being technical part of the common class, could often times be fairly wealthy compared to farmers or other commoner professions (3)”

During this time period, human sacrifice was a powerful form of religious practice in many Mesoamerican cultures. More often than not, the spiritual performance began with war rather than the modern Christian’s custom of attending church. The Aztec nation housed a surplus of young, strong men and as a result, was a powerhouse in battle due to their immense military power. Each war occurred for the sole purpose of capturing victims for sacrificial ceremonies.

Birdcage: This amazing artifact shows the thought of birds and the respect towards them. This birdcage is well designed and durable, the nobles would have a sturdy and an elegant birdcage while a commoner would have a simple looking cage, using the less sturdy material. The Aztecs used birds for sacrifices and for appearances and they used several birds' feathers, for decoration, clothing, and for fans. Birds were highly respected though the most respected bird was the quetzal. The quetzal was highly respected for its feathers and its appearance, you see the quetzal's appearance looked similar to the god, Quetzalcoatl, the green, blue, and red fur matches the look of Quetzalcoatl. Quetzals were highly hunted for its feathers, used in things

In his review of Veronica Zaráte Toscano’s book Los nobles ante la muerte en México. Actitudes, ceremonias y memoria (1750-1850) Elías Trabulse expressed appreciation for Zaráte Toscano’s intent and primary argument. The basis for her book was the exploration of funerary rites of the Mexican noble classes; she believed this field of study would unveil more about its practitioners than the deceased themselves and reveal underlying correlations between wealth and spirituality. The passing of my great aunt 150 years after the end of Zaráte Toscano’s research period surprisingly mirrored the funerary practices she touched upon. Despite the fact that I had not matured into womanhood

Brightly polychromed urns and incense burners sporting human and animal faces are among the larger ceramics that survive from this era. The Teotihuacanos may have been able to take these anthromorphic assemblages apart and reconfigure them into different deities from the constituent parts. (Miller, Mary Ellen 2012) One large urn from Teotihuacan displays the image of an owl deity that served the city’s war cult. Owl depictions have been tied to war iconography all across Mesoamerica because of their associations with nighttime and the

In a short section of chapter 18 “Non-Western Perspectives” of Understanding Art, Lois Fichner-Rathus explains the architectural detail in the pyramid temple of Quetzalcoatl, Teotihuacan. By adding that the high-relief heads surrounding the structure are images of the God Quetzalcoatl—who was believed to be a feathered serpent (425). Additionally, points out the bas-reliefs details of abstract serpent scales and feathers that follow the paths of the panels (425). And lastly, briefly mentions that the Aztec population believed in the God Quetzalcoatl.

In an article entitled, “The Aztecs Paid Taxes, Not Tribute,” archaeologist, Michael E. Smith writes:

The Aztec’s hieroglyphics were their way of writing called Nahuatl. They used it to write down anything that was important that happened. This artifact is “The wind God Ehecatl” and it is prized in all aspects. The Aztec artifact belongs to the Penn Museum in Mexico, art gallery. This it is very preserved Aztec’s Hieroglyphic up today. They used

Heard Museum received donation of a young male stone statue in a kneeling pose made in volcanic rock andesite from a patron. Art style is from Olmec culture, which classified to Early Preclassic period in Mesoamerican history. The Olmec people lived modern-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco on the Golf Coast of Mexico between 1500B.C.E and 400B.C.E. The young male stone statue found on El Azuzul in Veracruz, which commonly known as part of statues called “Twins”. San Lorenzo’s stone sculptors sculpted this statue with water, sand, and grass. The young male stone statue commissioned by Olmec elite has religious role “priest” or “mediator” for reenactments the mythological event.

The most prized Aztec featherworks were

Karl A Taube (1992), argues that the body found in the burial be of warriors. In his research, he talks about the Serpent heard and the iconography of the Teotihuacan found in many different groups as a

Have you ever wondered what your great grandma’s lunch box look like? You probably see something similar at The National museum of American History. The National Museum of American History has a variety of cool and sometimes weird exhibits to reminds us what certain and objects do to affect today’s lifestyle.

A country, a region, a belief, people will proud of the truth will always stand the test of time. Although colonialism is able to force people to behave in its ways, it cannot completely change people’s minds. Until September 21, 2004, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) opened to the public. The foundation which was established in 1916, in New York City,