Gold ornaments

Gilded Bodies 

Gold ornaments from the Calima region of Colombia are among the largest and most complex known from the ancient Americas. Many display evidence of wear and repair, suggesting that they adorned the bodies of high-status individuals, known as caciques, before the works were deposited in tombs. Some of these symbols of power feature self-referential depictions of individuals wearing their own ornaments, providing us with striking images of ancient leaders.   

The full regalia—a headdress, a nose ornament, earspools, a pectoral (or chest piece), arm ornaments, and other decorative items—would cover much of the body. The adornments’ polished surfaces and mobile parts generated shine and sound, making encounters with these golden caciques an unforgettable sensorial experience.