Head Cloth

Item number Sf874 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Data
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Description

The head cloth is long and narrow with a geometric pattern and long fringe. The pattern shows the same bipedal figure repeated six times in shades of brown, red, yellow and green. At both ends there is a band of diamonds in a diagonal pattern, followed by a section of tightly woven rows leading to a long multi-coloured fringe.

History Of Use

This is a standard style of head wrap found on mummy bundle heads in south coast graves along with incised resin painted pottery and structurally patterned textiles. Similar cloths are known from sites like Paracas Cavernas and Ocucaje, Ica Valley.

Iconographic Meaning

The frontal humanoid figure with serrated appendages is called the Oculate Being. It first appears in the south coast in the Early Horizon 8. Its characteristics are large, saucer eyes and grinning mouth. It appears in many guises and stances. Within its body, it has a smaller, variant form of the Oculate Being.