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Source Description
Peruvian Indians today regard coca leaf as a sacred substance that creates communion with supernatural forces. The leaves are chewed with powdered lime that in antiquity was stored in containers and scooped with spatulas like those seen here. Aside from its ritual meaning, coca has practical benefits: it is vitamin-rich; like coffee, it induces clear-headedness; and it increases stamina. The lizard spatula is Nasca in style; the other is Wari.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
133179
label
Spatula with Carved Head
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
133179
contentType
object
title
Spatula with Carved Head
description
Peruvian Indians today regard coca leaf as a sacred substance that creates communion with supernatural forces. The leaves are chewed with powdered lime that in antiquity was stored in containers and scooped with spatulas like those seen here. Aside from its ritual meaning, coca has practical benefits: it is vitamin-rich; like coffee, it induces clear-headedness; and it increases stamina. The lizard spatula is Nasca in style; the other is Wari.
date
500–900
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60747596
genreSpecific
Jewelry
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 11.2 x 2.6 cm (4 7/16 x 1 in.)
cul
Peru, Wari style (500-900)
accession
1955.57
Source extras
tec
bone with shell inlay
tombstone
Spatula with Carved Head, 500–900. Peru, Wari style (500-900). Bone with shell inlay; overall: 11.2 x 2.6 cm (4 7/16 x 1 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Humphreys, gift of their daughter Helen, 1955.57
collection
AA - Andes
creditline
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Humphreys, gift of their daughter Helen
updatedAt
2026-05-29 06:50:57.881000
sourceId
133179
dept
Art of the Americas
coll
AA - Andes
med
bone with shell inlay
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
2e1f0b1962e34dc7