Ostapkowicz, JoannaBrock, FionaWidenhoeft, Alex C.Schulting, Rick J.Daviola, Donatella2017-10-172017-10-172017-09-20Ostapkowicz J, Brock F, Wiedenhoeft AC, et al., (2017) Integrating the Old World into the New: an ‘Idol from the West Indies’. Antiquity, Volume 91, Issue 359, October 2017, pp. 1314-1329https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2017.151http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/12649The Pigorini cemí is an icon of Caribbean colonial history, reflecting early trans-Atlantic cross-cultural exchanges. Although well documented, the piece has received surprisingly little systematic study. We present the first structural analysis and radiocarbon dating of the sculpture (modelled at AD 1492–1524), and a brief discussion of the materials from which it is comprised. These include indigenous shell and European glass beads, newly identified feather and hair fibres, and the enigmatic rhinoceros-horn mask carved as a human face. We also address the sculpture's hidden internal wooden base, which is shown to be a non-indigenous display mount made of European willow (Salix sp.).Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Article