Poporo

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The Poporo is a pre-Columbian piece of art from the Muisca, Chibcha and Quimbaya cultures. The poporo is a device used by indigenous cultures for the storage of small amounts of lime (calcium) produced from burnt and crushed sea-shells. It has two pieces: a pin that is used to carry the lime to the mouth while chewing dried and crushed coca leaves and a storage container of lime. For the indigenous culture chewing coca was considered sacred and it was used in all ceremonial rituals. The poporo attributed power and social status amongst the members of the culture.