Maya: Treasures of an Ancient Civilization (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1985 April 26 - 1985 July 28

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened in April 26, 1985 and closed July 28, 1985. Located in Section 3, Floor 3 in Gallery 3 at the American Museum of Natural History. "Maya: Treasures of an Ancient Civilization" was an exhibition representing some 3,500 years of Maya history and surveyed the artistic heritage of the Maya whose cities flourished in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras.

Summary

"Maya: Treasures of an Ancient Civilization" was an exhibition representing some 3,500 years of Maya history and surveyed the artistic heritage of the Maya whose cities flourished in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. On display were 275 artifacts made of jade, wood, stone, shell and gold. Among the items on view was a gold necklace composed of jaguar heads and beads, a polychrome vase, a carved jade plaque, and effigy incense burners. The exhibit was divided into five sections: "Discovery and Exploration", "Villages and Chiefdoms", "Cities and Lords", "Merchants and Warriors" and "Looting and Collecting." The exhibit was developed by the Albuquerque Museum in association with the Instituto Nacional de Antropologica e Historia in Mexico, the Instituto de Antropologia e Historia de Guatemala, and the Department of Archeology in Belize. Charles Gallenkamp was the exhibition coordinator for the Albuquerque museum. The exhibit was funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Albuquerque Museum Foundation, the City of Albuquerque and the New Mexico Development and Tourism Department. The exhibit was on view in Gallery 3 of the American Museum of Natural History from April 26 through July 28, 1985. Following its premiere at the American Museum, the exhibition traveled to: the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History; the Dallas Museum of Art; the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto; the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, the Kansas City and the Albuquerque Museum.

Individuals and institutions involved in the creation of the exhibition: Albuquerque Museum; Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia in Mexico; Instituto de Antropologia e Historia de Guatemala; Deparment of Archeology in Belize.

Sources

American Museum of Natural History Press Release, March 28, 1985. Departmental Records, 101; American Museum of Natural History Library Archives.

---

Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Gallery 3.
Location of exhibition.

---