For Immediate Release Contact: Pat Kremer/Nancy O’Shea (312) 665-7100 (For Media Use Only) Objects in the exhibition include gold and silver male and female figurines, gold birds and gold and silver beakers. Several stone objects in the exhibition were used in rituals dedicated to the gods in order to ensure the fertility of animals, particularly llama and alpaca herds. Some of these are effigies of animals and have holes that were stuffed with maize, coca leaves, fat and other substances. They were then buried along with prayers and offerings of corn beer. The excavations of Machu Picchu also revealed objects and charms relating to religious rituals and astronomical observations. The exhibition features a jar from a woman healer’s cave burial and bronze parabolic mirrors, as well as other artifacts relating to the worship of supernatural forces. In addition, the exhibition includes a wide range of items used in daily life – ceramic jars and plates, and a variety of tools including a bronze chisel, a bronze knife and awl, and a copper T-shaped knife with a crescent-shaped blade. Inca craftsmen made special knives for use in the sacrifice of animals to the gods. In many cases, these ritual tools were perforated so that they could be worn around the neck as pendants. Examples of these tools in the exhibition include a bronzed straight bladed knife with a fisherman design, a bronze knife with a pinwheel decoration on the handle and a bronze knife with a finial depicting a bird holding a snake in its beak. The sophistication of the Inca civilization is clearly seen in the structures and artifacts found at Machu Picchu. At its height, the Inca Empire consisted of millions of people living in a vast territory without the aid of money, writing or even wheeled vehicles. However, the empire quickly collapsed under the rule of the Spanish conquistadors (conquerors) who arrived in what is now Ecuador in 1531. When the Spanish vanquished the Inca, Machu Picchu was abandoned forever to lie hidden in the rainforest for centuries. Machu Picchu: Unveiling the Mystery of the Incas offers a marvelous insight into the discovery and inner workings of this remarkable, magical culture. The exhibition is made possible by support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, the Connecticut Humanities Council, Yale University and the Heritage Mark Foundation. Continue>>