Precolumbian Art - Lower Central America and Caribbean

The major archaeological cultural phases in pre-Columbian Costa Rica are Guanacaste-Nicoya and Chorotegas.

The major archaeological cultural phases in pre-Columbian Panama are La Mula, Tonosi, Cubita, Macaracas, Veraguas, and Sitio Conte – Gran Coclé.

The major archaeological cultural phases of the Pre-Columbian Caribbean Islands are Saladoid and Taino.

Amid this diverse cultural heritage, an extraordinary selection of Pre-Columbian artifacts from these regions will be showcased. This includes pottery vessels adorned with detailed patterns, stone pieces skillfully carved to reflect spiritual and functional significance, and bone artifacts that illustrate unique craftsmanship and ritual uses. These treasures provide a window into the daily life, belief systems, and artistic traditions of ancient Central American and Caribbean societies. The collection aims to highlight the cultural depth and sophisticated artistry of these civilizations, offering viewers a meaningful connection to their lasting heritage.

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Rare Taino Wood Snuff Tube – Cohoba Inhaler w/ Shell Teeth

Intricate Details and Artistic Narrative of this Taino Wood Snuff Tube This extraordinary pre-Columbian Taino Arawak Cohoba inhaler is an extremely rare ceremonial artifact, masterfully hand-carved in wood—a highly perishable medium seldom surviving from the pre-contact Caribbean. Rendered in the form of a seated Zemi anthropomorphic figure with arms dramatically raised above the head, the piece emanates both spiritual intensity and elite craftsmanship. The figure’s face is striking, with deeply incised circular eyes, a sharply ridged nose, and a broad mouth inlaid with white shell teeth. The shell, considered sacred by the Taino, signals the object’s elevated ritual status and underscores its symbolic function as a conduit to the spiritual world. Intricate geometric carvings cover the limbs, torso, and cranial surface, echoing the visual language of Arawak cosmology. The pose—knees drawn upward and arms lifted high—reflects shamanic invocation or transformation, typical of spiritual ecstasy induced during the Cohoba ceremony. Extending from the upraised hands are twin perforated nasal tubes used to administer Cohoba, a psychoactive powder derived from Anadenanthera peregrina seeds. A third opening at the base connects with these ducts, completing a sacred instrument used exclusively by shamans (bohíques) to enter trance states, communicate with zemis (ancestral spirits), […]

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