Paracas Mummy (Exhibition)

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Exist Dates

1949 September 30 - 1949 October 17

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract
Exhibition. Opened September 30, 1949 and closed October 17, 1949. Located in Section 12, Floor 1 in the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall at the American Museum of Natural History. The Paracas Mummy featured the famous pre-Inca Paracas Mummy as well as clothing and other materials discovered during its unwrapping.

Summary

The Paracas Mummy featured the famous pre-Inca Paracas Mummy as well as clothing and other materials discovered during its unwrapping. The mummy was officially unveiled on September 20, 1949 in the Education Hall of the Museum (1, p. 1).

The mummy, approximately 3,000 years old and believed to be a high priest, was discovered in the Paracas coastal plains near Pisco, Peru, in 1927 by Julio C. Tello. It arrived in New York City on Grace Line's Santa Isabel on September 12. Panagra (Pan American-Grace Airways) underwrote the scientific expenditures connected with bringing the mummy to the United States. Dr. Rebeca Carrión, Julio C. Tello's successor as director of the National Museum of Archeology and Anthropology of Peru, accompanied the mummy to New York and supervised the unwrapping. Dr. Carrión was assisted by the Museum's associate curator in Archaeology, Dr. Junuis Bird (1, p. 1; 2).

After its unveiling, the mummy was moved to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall for public exhibition. The mummy was exhibited with many articles of clothing and other material uncovered during the unwrapping process, including three colorful poncho shirts, a large turban, and three well-preserved mantles (2).

This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.

Sources

    (1) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "The Paracas Mummy." September 20, 1949. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.
    (2) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "Peruvian Mummy Placed on Exhibit Today at Natural History Museum." September 30, 1949. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.

Chronology

  • 1927: Paracas Mummy discovered by Julio C. Tello of the National Museum of Archeology and Anthropology of Peru
  • September 12, 1949: Paracas Mummy arrives in New York for exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History
  • September 20, 1949: Paracas Mummy officially unveiled in the Education Hall of the American Museum of Natural History after its unwrapping
  • September 30, 1949: Paracas Mummy Exhibition opens on the first floor of the New York State Roosevelt Memorial
  • October 17, 1949: Exhibition closes

Terms

localDescription
temporary exhibition
localDescription
enhanced
place
New YorkExternal link
AMNH: Section 12, Floor 1

Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Education Hall.
Location of official unveiling of Paracas Mummy at the Museum 1949 September 20 (1, p. 1)
Bird, Junius Bouton 1907-1982
Associate curator in Archeology, assisted Rebeca Carrión in unwrapping Paracas mummy (2)
Carrión Cachot, RebecaExternal link
Director of Peruvian National Museum, unwrapped Paracas mummy with Junius Bird (2)
Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología (Peru)External link
Institutional partner (1, p. 1)
New York State Roosevelt Memorial
Location of exhibition 1949 September 30 – 1949 October 17 (2)
Pan American-Grace Airways, Inc.External link
Institutional partner (2)
Tello, Julio C.
Uncovered the Paracas Mummy in Peru in 1927, Carrión's predecessor at the National Museum in Peru (1, p. 1)

Related Resources

American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1949-1950.
American Museum of Natural History annual reports, 1902-2001.
American Museum of Natural History. Annual Reports, Departmental. "Department of Anthropology Report for Period July 1, 1949 – June 30, 1950." [July 1, 1950]. Departmental Records, DR 098. American Museum of Natural History Library.
subjectOf
American Museum of Natural History Special Collections photographic drawers
Repository: AMNH Special Collections. [Black and white photo prints of exhibition in preparation and on view]
American Museum of Natural History press releases, 1933-1990s.
American Museum of Natural History. Annual Reports, Departmental. "Department of Anthropology Report for Period July 1, 1949 – June 30, 1950." [July 1, 1950]. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.

Written by: Clare O'Dowd
Last modified: 2018 July 17


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