VALDIVIA SIX-SIDE CARVED SANDSTONE IDOL.Ecuador, 2300-2000 B.C. The cubic-form idol carved with a particularly well balanced geometry; the four large vertical sides carved with double idols with wide open eyes symbolizing the clairvoyance of the shamans, extremely stylized bodies; on the two horizontal sides the head is depicted. Alexander Hirtz wrote in the summary of "The Valdivia Civilization", "The Valdivias, a pre-Columbian culture from West Coast Ecuador, distinguished themselves for their sophistication between 6400 BP and 3500 BP (BP= Before Present) outranking any other culture in America of that period." - 12 in. high. Estimate $6,000-8,000
