Christ Figure Created in the Americas

Exploring the Early Americas The Jay I. Kislak Collection

Pre-Contact America | Explorations and Encounters | Aftermath of the Encounter

Languages and Religion | Competition for Empire | Documenting New Knowledge

Christ Figure Created in the Americas (58)

Fragment of Christ figure. San Rafael Cave, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Taíno, sixteenth century. Carved lignum vitae. Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (58.00.00) Photo ©Justin Kerr, Kerr Associates

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Little is known about this diminutive wooden figure found in a dry cave in southeastern Dominican Republic. It is possibly one of the oldest Christian images to have been created in the Americas.