Whitten Collection of Amazonian Ecuador Cultural Artifacts
Norman E. and Dorothea S. Whitten have lived and worked with the indigenous Canelos Quichua people of Pastaza province, Amazonian Ecuador, from 1968 to the current day. The Spurlock Museum collection of over 900 objects includes musical instruments and ritual objects of bead, feather, and wood, but the majority of the collection is pottery made by Canelos Quichua women. This collection provides a look at the people of Amazonian Ecuador based on four main categories: pottery, mythology, music, and adornment. Information on this valuable research resource has been contributed by Norman Whitten to the Spurlock Museum.