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 intriguing figure represents a deceased ancestor, and may be something of an actual portrait. The indentation atop his head is intended to hold fetish material. Abstract and elegant, he seems very ancient yet at the same time appealing to modern sensibilities. There is no denying the power of his gaze, which seems to stare beyond surfaces into the soul.