On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas

Shanghai Museum, People’s Square · People’s Square Museum, 1F–3F · Shanghai · –

Artifacts from the Americas explore the beliefs, daily lives and art of ancient civilizations.

In-depth audio guide

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Closed during the exhibition
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Held at the People’s Square Museum. Reserve admission in advance and check the official booking page for hours and sessions; this show is not at the East Museum. Usually closed on Mondays, except public holidays. Dated closures for 2027 await confirmation of holiday arrangements; check the official schedule before a 2027 visit.

Works (12)

  1. 1-1. Olmec Colossal Stone Head 4 Olmec culture (maker unknown) · Basalt (per the museum’s description) · Early Preclassic period, 1200–900 BCE · Museo de Antropología de Xalapa — A basalt face of about 4.5 tonnes, thought to portray a particular ruler.
  2. 1-4. Las Limas Monument 1 Olmec culture (maker unknown) · Green serpentine (per the museum’s description) · Middle Preclassic period, 1000–600 BCE · Museo de Antropología de Xalapa — A cross-legged youth holds out an infant with jaguar features on both forearms.
  3. 2-1. Stela 51 of Calakmul Maya culture (maker unknown) · Stone; the consulted official sources do not name the stone · Late Classic period, 731 CE · Museo Nacional de Antropología — A king stands on a captive in this stela, set up in 731.
  4. 2-3. Anthropomorphic Pottery Incense Burner Pedestals Maya culture (maker unknown) · Pottery with remains of Maya blue and red pigment (per the museum’s description) · Late Classic period, 600–900 CE · Museo Nacional de Antropología — Divine faces stack upward like a tree joining earth and sky.
  5. 2-6. Stone Ballgame Panel Maya culture (maker unknown) · Stone; the consulted official sources do not name the stone · Classic period, 250–900 CE · Museo Nacional de Antropología — Two nobles kneel on one knee, a huge rubber ball between them.
  6. 3-4. Incised Conch Trumpet Teotihuacan culture (maker unknown) · Conch shell, incised · Early Classic period, 150–250 CE · Zona arqueológica de Teotihuacan — A crocodile floats across this shell; each time it sounded, creation was replayed.
  7. 3-5. Greenstone Figures Teotihuacan culture (maker unknown) · Greenstone; the consulted official sources do not identify the mineral · Early Classic period, 200–250 CE · Zona arqueológica de Teotihuacan — These two green figures were buried together at the far end of a tunnel under a pyramid.
  8. 4-1. Effigy of Mictlantecuhtli, Lord of the Underworld Aztec culture (maker unknown) · Ceramic in two joined parts, once covered with painted stucco (per the museum’s description) · Late Postclassic period, 1480 CE · Museo del Templo Mayor — A clay figure slightly taller than a person embodies the ruler of the underworld.
  9. 4-2. Almena in the Shape of a Conch's Section Aztec culture (maker unknown) · Clay (per the museum’s description) · Late Postclassic period, 1200–1521 CE · Museo del Templo Mayor — A conch shell cut in half becomes a roof ornament more than two metres tall.
  10. 5-4. Ai Apaec and His Battles at Sea Moche culture (maker unknown) · Ceramic flaring bowl · 350–850 CE (Moche culture date range) · Museo Larco, Lima - Peru — A rattling clay bowl paints a hero’s journey under the sea, his death and his return.
  11. 5-8. Frontal Headdress with Plumes Chimú culture (maker unknown) · Gold and sodalite · 1100–1470 CE (Chimú culture date range) · Museo Larco, Lima - Peru — Feline, bird and serpent: three sacred animals meet in one gold headdress.
  12. 5-10. Dragonflies and Feline Head Inca culture (maker unknown) · Ceramic pitcher (urpu) · 1400–1532 CE (Inca culture date range) · Museo Larco, Lima - Peru — A long-necked Inca jar: a feline head peers from its shoulder, dragonflies circle its body.

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