Mayan Head Wraps

Red macaw in Honduras.

Stela B in Copan, Honduras - note the head wrapping.

Modern Mayan women in Guatemala wearing head wrappings.

Head wrapping in China among the Miao.

The Miao Tribe

Miao bridal dress.

Tribal Vietnam blonde tribe Miao ethnic Hmong indigenous Bacha.

The Oldest Silver Adornments Maidens of the Miao group in Daluo Village of Leishan County wear “W” shaped head adornments and column shaped twisted neck adornments. These adornments are said to have a history as long as that of lusheng music instrument. The Heaviest Silver Adornments When formally dressed, women of Miao in Xijiang region of Leishan County wear beautiful silver adornments all over their bodies and on their heads. They also wear necklaces and ornamental chaplets around their necks, silver locks on their chests, silver flakes with embossed patterns, silver chains and silver bells on the back. All the gorgeous silver adornments weigh more than 10 kg.

"The Miao minority people are widely scattered but live in small groups throughout Guizhou, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hunan, Sichuan, Guangdong, Hubei etc. The Miao have a long history of music and dance, especially the ‘Lusheng’ (Reed Pipe) dance which demands great skill. Miao handicrafts such as their embroidery, batik, brocade and jewellery are particularly colourful and desirable. Lusheng music and dance is to be seen in their traditional festivals such as the Miao New Year Festival, Lusheng Festival, Lagu Festival, Mang Ge Festival etc, held in Rongshui. Visiting Miao villages allows the visitor to experience the special Miao hospitality. You will be stopped in your path while they sing welcome songs, offer drinks, gifts etc."

This method of wrapping the head was also used by the Mayans and is practiced today by the Mayan tribes of Guatemala.

Kuelap and the White Indians of Darien

One of the white Indians of Darien in Panama.

The entrance of Kuelap the cloud forest fortress of the Chachapoya white Indians in South America.

Kuelap in Peru.

Kuelap from the air. The cloud forest that once concealed it from view is gone now. The Chachapoyas who lived here were called the "Cloud Forest People" and were blonde and white skinned. They were eventually conquered by the Incas.

Cuzco Serenade

Cuzco, Peru musicians.

Mayan Ballplayer with Chocolate Pods - Jaina

This warrior-ballplayer has decorated his costume with cacao pods in honor of the god of chocolate.

Moche Portrait Ceramics

Moche sculptural portrait stirrup spout bottle.

(Click to enlarge).

"Emerald Moche Llamas"

"Luis Seclen celebrates llamas with this endearing set of four figurines. Used as a beast of burden since the time of the Moche people, llamas held a special place in the Inca Empire and would be buried along with important people. A multicolored llama represents the deity Urcuchillay, who ruled over animals. Seclen handcrafts each endearing figurine with blown glass techniques and adorns their heads and the patterns on the throws with silver leaf." "The director of the Sican National Museum, Carlos Elera, told the daily that Shinoda found that people who lived more than 1,000 years ago in what today is the Lambayeque region, about 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of Lima, had genetic links to the comtemporaneous populations of Ecuador, Colombia, Siberia, Taiwan and to the Ainu people of northern Japan. The studies will be continued on descendents of the Mochica culture, from the same region, who are currently working on the Sican Project and with people who live in the vicinity of the Bosque de Pomac Historical Sanctuary."

Moche Silver - Peru

The sun as a feline puma face in a silver sun-disc.

A Moche pattern in gold - sting rays.

The Moche of Peru

The tomb of Lady Cao in Trujillo, Peru.

"Adobe depiction of the Moche culture of northern Peru showing that they had big totora reed ships that could travel the Pacific Ocean."

Mural from the tomb of Lady Cao - the sun as a feline face holding two condors.

Comparative Archaeology

A stepped pyramid in China. "Pirámide escalonada de Zangkunchong, China."

Nazca Lines

Reconstruction of a Paracas long-skull - thought to have constructed the Nazca lines.

An unseen Nazca figure photographed from an ultralight plane.

Nazca irrigation system on the high desert plain where the Nazca lines are located.