From the exhibition:
Santa Fe Found: Fragments of Time
New Mexico History Museum
Higas (also known as figas) are protective amulets in the shape of a clenched fist with the thumb placed between the middle and forefinger. From the New Mexico History Museum excavation, three higas – two made of jet and the third of silver – were recovered from pits where household refuse was dumped. These examples show that higas have wide size ranges, perhaps reflecting the fact that higas were commonly worn from infancy through adulthood. Higas adorned equestrian equipment such as bits and bridles and they were worn in large numbers by sailors to ward off evil spirits. Photo by Blair Clark, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.
Note: Representative image at left is often cropped for display purposes. Downloaded high-resolution images are not cropped.
