The creative spirit was evident in every aspect of Indigenous life in the Americas, from ceremonies, stories, songs and dances to everyday objects. Ancestral art works of ceramic, metal, wood and woven materials communicate the essence of cultural history prior to 1491 in the Americas. Stories keep traditional values, rituals and ways of knowledge alive.  Indigenous art forms created a visual library of history. Rock art is one of the oldest art forms in the world. Petroglyphs were carved or scraped onto rock surfaces using stone or bone tools. Pictograph images were painted on cave walls and cliff faces using organic materials, recording events and traditional life from Patagonia to the Great Lakes. Mining and metallurgy technologies were very advanced in the Incan empire; tools and art were created using gold, silver, copper, bronze and platinum. The techniques used in weaving natural fibres varied across the Americas. Objects created from pine needles, grasses, roots and bar were enhanced by colorful geometric designs. Pottery technologies in the Americas evolved into an art form that had both utilitarian and spiritual roles. Carved masks were used by many groups in storytelling, dance ceremonies and potlaches, bringing traditional stories and legends to life. Carved totem poles on the west coast presented family stories. Music, dance and storytelling were important in sacred ceremonies and celebrations, connecting people to each other and to the natural and spirit worlds. The artistic expressions of Indigenous societies have survived to this day through the preservation of ancient cultural artifacts and in works created by contemporary artists working in traditional styles.

pt. 1. Art and Culture - 1491 -- pt. 2. Storytelling - 1491 -- pt. 3. Petroglyphs - 1491 -- pt. 4. Inka Metallurgy - 1491 -- pt. 5. Inka Empire - 1491 -- pt. 6. Basketry - 1491 -- pt. 7. Pottery - 1491 -- pt. 8. Carved Masks - 1491 -- pt. 9. Totem Poles - 1491.