Female Funerary Urn
Female Funerary Urn
About A.D. 1200-1600
Brazil, Lower Amazon River Region
Earthenware with colored slips
Gift of Frederick and Jan Mayer, 2006.17A&B
Near the Maracá River in Brazil, archaeologists have discovered cave cemeteries with funerary urns containing bones from secondary burials. Some of the urns are animal effigies, while others consist of hollow male and female human figures seated atop benches; the removable heads served as lids. This urn probably comes from the same general region, and fulfilled a similar function. The figure has elaborate painting on the face and body, and swollen calves (produced by the use of ligatures). The urn likely served as a portrait of the deceased, allowing descendants to venerate and consult with their ancestress at the cemetery.