Some time between 650 and 700 AD, a man aged 30 to 40 died in Lorma Salvatierra in the north of the Amazon Basin in Bolivia. He was buried in the middle of a small burial platform at a depth of about three metres. He evidently had high status in his community, as is indicated by the unusually rich grave furnishings. A remarkable item is the ear jewellery. This consists of two round cut-out segments of armadillo shell, each with a copper disc. The shimmering green colour of the armadillo armour today is the result of oxide from the copper disc.
Lorma Salvatierra is one of about 2,000 pre-Hispanic settlement sites in the Bolivian Amazon Basin which are being studied by a team from the DAI’s Commission for Archaeology of Non-European Cultures. The settlements, enclosed by large ditch systems, are being systematically documented and investigated archaeologically.
The highly unusual ear jewellery lay in situ next to the man’s skull (Photo: Heiko Prümers, DAI KAAK) 
Detail of the jewellery, made of segments of armadillo shell (Photo: Heiko Prümers, DAI KAAK)