National Museum of Korea - Peruvian Civilizations Exhibit
Last weekend I went to see an exhibit on pre-contact Andean civilizations at the National Museum of Korea. This special exhibition contains 351 artifacts from 20 different civilizations - including the Moche, Chimu, and Incas among others - on loan from nine different museums in Peru* and will be open to visitors through 28 March. While taking pictures was strictly prohibited inside the exhibition area (which was much appreciated) a very nice, 311 page book covering the history and artifacts on display (태양의 아들, 잉카; The Great Myth and Mystery of Peruvian Civilizations: Inca) is available for 25,000 won. There was quite a bit of diversity within the displays -- stirrup-spout vessels, quipu, scepter knives, an assortment of gold and turquoise jewelry, jars designed to resemble shamans and gods, trepanated skulls, and mummies (잉카 미라).
The pond outside the museum was still frozen over, as you can see in this photo. Despite the fact that casual visitors were not allowed to take photos, there are a few posted online from both press agencies and the museum itself. For those who can't attend but would like to see a sample of what was on offer, click on the link below. Otherwise, go check it out!
펠리노신 목걸이 Necklace with Feline pendant -- Pacopampa (B.C.1250-A.D.1)
올빼미 장식 병 Owl-shaped vessel -- Cupisnique (B.C.1200-200)
펠리노 신상 Feline Figure -- Moche (A.D.100-700)
야마상 Statuette of Ilama -- Inca (A.D.1430-1532)
귀걸이 Ear Ornament Decorated With Duck Design -- Moche (A.D.100-700)
의례 장면 모형 Funeral Model -- Chimu (1300-1470)
두개골에 구멍을 뚫다 Trepanated Skulls -- Inca (A.D.1430-1532)
Press Pass. How do I get one of these?? ;)
Sorry, no images of mummies; not even the monkey mummy. But to go along with the asterisk above here's a list of the museums and organizations involved in loaning artifacts to the National Museum of Korea:
Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera; Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón; Centro Mallqui; Fundacion Miguel Mujica Gallo; Museo Inca de la Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad; Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipán; Asociación Amigos del Museo de Sipán; Museo de Arqueología e Historia de la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo; Museo Nacional de Arqueología Antropología e Historia del Perú; Instituto Nacional de Cultura, Peru; Museo Banco Central de Reserva del Perú