Large water jar form with flowing floral design in red and black on white ground on the body. Base is red.

A canteen-shaped jar with polychrome designs outlined in black on a brown slip. The vessel has a tall thin neck, slightly flared rim, and a small handle on one shoulder. The jar's decoration is dominated with two snarling feline figures, one on each side, and the rim with alternating black and beige rectangles. The surface is heavily burnished. Condition: good.

Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund

Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund

Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund

Museum Expedition 1904, Museum Collection Fund

Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund

Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund

Hundreds of panpipes similar to this one have been found in Nasca burial sites along pilgrimage routes, suggesting that the instruments served an important ceremonial function in ancient times. Scholars believe that panpipes were played by pilgrims during processions to the giant geoglyphs (designs scratched on the ground) in the Nasca desert and at ritual feasts that took place at the nearby site of Cahuachi. These ceremonies were held to ensure water for the agricultural season.


Cientos de zampoñas parecidas a ésta han sido encontradas en enterratorios Nasca a lo largo de rutas de peregrinaje, sugiriendo que este instrumento servía una función ceremonial importante en tiempos antiguos. Académicos creen que las zampoñas eran tocadas por peregrinos durante procesiones a los geoglifos gigantes (diseños marcados en la tierra) en el desierto de Nasca y en festines rituales que se realizaban en el sitio cercano de Cahuachi. Estas ceremonias se realizaban para asegurar el agua para la estación agrícola.

Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund