-Unknown-
"Tripod Vessel with Monkey Motif"
Earthenware, n.d.(Pre-Columbian)
LFAC #547
The Panama Pre-Columbian Pottery Collection at Luther College was acquired as the result
of three January-Term classes which traveled to Panama in 1969, 1970, and 1971. In 1969
the trip consisted of an archaeological excavation at Rio de Jesus, Veraguas and Cerro
Gordo Provinces, under the auspices of Luther College and the National Museum of Panama.
In 1970 and 1971, the classes met in Veraguas again as well as Cocle and Chiriqui provinces. Each class consisted of approximately 15-20 students. Leaders of the classes were Luther College faculty led by Art Department member, Dean Schwarz.
The pottery acquired during these class experiences was accessioned into the Fine Arts Collection
around 1984. Although many of the pots were accessioned into the Collection at that time,
another 38 were transferred from the Anthropology Collection after it was determined their value
rested in the artistic rather than the anthropological nature of the pieces.
Several oral histories were conducted with members of the classes concerning the methods and
techniques used in the process of acquiring the pottery. A diary kept by a class member in
1969 was also transcribed and is part of the documentation on the Collection. The National
Museum of Panama had first selection of all pieces discovered by the classes. The remaining
pieces were brought back to the United States, with some remaining in the possession of class
members while others were donated to the College. Pottery was both excavated and purchased for
the Luther College Fine Arts Collection.
A substantial number of works from the Panama Pre-Columbian Pottery Collection were lost for many
years but rediscovered in 1993 during a thorough sweep of the Centennial Union. At that time,
the key was found to a little-used storage room, revealing the pottery sitting on the floor.
Ref: Oral histories conducted with Walter Ordway (’69); Wendy Tessman Stevens (’69); Peter
Deneen (’70); Mark Smeby (’70); Ted Sojka (’70); and,
Douglas Eckheart (faculty). Research report prepared by David Kamm, Examples of Ancient
Panamanian Pottery from the Collection of Luther College, September 1, 1984.
