South American Anthropology
The Museum has a fascinating collection of South American artifacts that started with materials collected during the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. Among these is the Montez collection, which features incredible objects from the Inca and Colonial periods.
During the exposition, some of the first scientific digs were conducted, such as those by George Dorsey in places like Ancon, Peru, and Isla de la Plata, Ecuador. Following this, there were additional excavations, including two trips to Peru led by Captain Marshall Field and organized by Alfred Kroeber, as well as digs in Colombia by J. Alden Mason and work by Donald Collier in both Peru and Ecuador.
Even today, museum scientists continue to research in South America, upholding the tradition of collecting ethnographic items that began during the early expeditions of the late 1800s.
Use of Collections
Some items in the Field Museum collections are available to loan for exhibition, research, or education in support of our mission: fighting climate change, preserving biodiversity, celebrating cultures, and championing science.
