Pre-Columbian gold goes on display at Smithsonian

“The artifacts, which date from before Columbus’ arrival, are on exhibit until April at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. They include intricate nose rings, masks resembling sacred animals, musical instruments that mimic birds and ceramic burial vessels. Flasks and inhalers that religious shamans used to ingest hallucinogens - the better to transform themselves into the animals they worshipped - are on display, too.

“These are some of the masterpieces of the world,” said museum director Cristian Samper. The 280 pieces are on loan from the Colombian national bank’s Gold Museum in Bogota.”

Please note some (many) sites require registration. Many times it is free.

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