In the valleys of Northern Ghana, the remains of a mysterious vanished culture have been emerging from ancient burial mounds. As in many ancient civilizations in both the old and new worlds, the burials are accompanied by terracotta sculptures that reveal much about the people who created them. The bold expressionism and appreciation for the human form that characterizes these works is unique in the canon of African art. This remarkable piece depicts a seated man--very likely a warrior--who wears a dagger strapped to his arm. His form is rendered with extreme simplicity, and it is his gaze which rivets our attention. Wide-eyed and open-mouthed, he seems in awe of some unseen force of the spirit world. Such a work speaks of a universal reaction when confronting the unknown.