Long open-front coat. Red striped silk with light blue and off-white cross-hatched lining. Panels of embroidered strips extend down the front on both sides of opening, and on the underside of the cuffs. The opening, collar, and cuffs are embroidered with yellow, black and white flowers. The front is decorated with metal drops (possibly pounded coins?), as well as Pahlavi Dynasty coins and Islamic Republic of Iran coins. The latter have amber-like decorations on the obverse side of each coin.

Alfred W. Jenkins Fund

Alfred W. Jenkins Fund

These composite crocodilian-bat figures represent “hunter-heroes.” They carry macanas, or sword-clubs made of shell, and atlatls, or spear throwers. Their tusk-shaped bodies are made of copal, a type of resin, which may have replaced the original bone tusks used in the ornament. This pendant was most likely worn during battle or ceremonial events to demonstrate the strength and power of the wearer.


Estas figuras compuestas cocodrilo-murciélago representan “cazadores-héroes.” Ellos llevan macanas, o garrotes-espada hechos de concha, y atlatls, o propulsores de lanzas. Sus cuerpos en forma de colmillo están hechos de copal, un tipo de resina, la cual puede haber reemplazado a los colmillos de hueso originales utilizados en el ornamento.

Alfred W. Jenkins Fund

The glass bead is blue and amber (color).

TOTEMS TO TURQUOISE (AMNH, NEW YORK, NY, USA, 2004)

Amber beads on cotton twine in the shape of a necklace. All of the beads are flat and oval shaped with the exception of two cylindrical shaped near the back of the group. There is one lozenge that ties the two ends together. The bottom section has a metallic, coiled knot the ends with twisted silk threads, three beads then a red and white silk tassel.