Rare GIANT Columbian Tairona Gold Copper Figure Piece is 18 1/2" x 6 3/4" The Tairona civilization is most renowned for its distinctive goldwork. The earliest known Tairona gold work has been described for the Neguanje Period (from about 300 to 800 AD). Its use in the Tairona society appears to have extended beyond the elite, although little proof of this exists. The gold artifacts consist of pendants, lip-plugs, nose ornaments, necklaces, and earrings. The Tairona cast a meltable mixture of gold, silver and copper called Tumbaga into intricate moulds using clay, sand, charcoal and lost wax. Depletion gilding, using controlled corrosion to remove copper from the surface, gave the appearance of solid gold. Cast Tairona figure pendants (known as "caciques") in particular stand out among the goldworks of pre-Columbian America because of their richness in detail. The figurines depict human subjects - probably the shamanic elite that ruled them - in ornate dresses and with a large animal mask over the face. Many elements of their body posture (e.g., hands on their hips) and dress signal an aggressive stance, and hence are interpreted by some as evidence for the power of the wearer and the bellicose nature of Tairona society at that time. Not only that, but recent revelations have shown that this was the first step of a process known as 'transformation', which involved members of the shaman elite putting on sub-labial ornaments, nose rings etc. to resemble certain bat species and extract powers from the animal, opening their eyes to a greater truthAll items Located in in Hollywood Florida Warehouse For Shipping Call today for quote they have item numbers and Pak Mail is available for all your custom packaging and shipping needs. We can package, palletize, crate, insure and ship to any Domestic or International location. All packaging and shipping fees must be paid in full before shipment is released. On international shipments, consignee is responsible for all Duties, Taxes, Customs Clearance or any destination fees that apply. Please visit our website @ www.pakmail.com/us770 for contact information or to get a quote. (Let us know you are a winning bidder from the Puckett auction so we can correctly arrange pick up for your item