File
number:ela0097 © South
American Pictures/ Tony Morrison The
La Tolita (Ecuador) culture lasted from ca 600BC to 400AD and produced some
of the finest pre-Columbian gold artifacts. The goldsmiths worked in gold, silver,
platinum, tumbaga (an alloy of copper and gold) and copper. This 'sungod
mask' is its most famous piece, being now the emblem of the Banco Central, but
it is often erroneously referred to as Inca. Museo
del Banco Central |