South America to c. 1500

Cupisnique

1800–400 B.C.E.

This culture flourished on the coast of Peru, producing art that reaches back more than 3500 years.

Chavín

900–200 B.C.E.

Chavín de Huántar is an important archaeological site in the mountains of Peru with a massive temple complex that contains a fifteen-foot carved stone likely seen only by priests.

Chorrera

c. 1300–300 B.C.E.

Jama-Coaque

350 B.C.E.–1531 C.E.

Salinar

c. 200 B.C.E.–200 C.E.

The Salinar culture flourished on the north coast of Peru, and their art is similar to Cupisnique and Moche ceramic arts

Nasca

1–700 C.E.

The Nasca people inhabited one of the driest regions of the world. They made geoglyphs that are among the world’s largest drawings.

Paracas

c. 700 B.C.E.–200 C.E.

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The contents of Paracan burials constitute the only known records of Paracas culture.

Moche

200–900 C.E.

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Moche architects and artists raised spectacular adobe pyramids. Their ceramics and jewelry are naturalistic and rich in imagery, inviting us to explore their world.

Wari

c. 500–1000 C.E.

The Wari culture developed wonderfully abstract art, and absorbed elements from Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku

200–1100 C.E.

The Tiwanaku civilization was centered in the Lake Titicaca region of present-day southern Peru and western Bolivia, although its cultural influence spread into Bolivia and parts of Chile and Argentina

Chancay

c. 1000–1450 C.E.

The Chancay people lived on the central coast of Peru, centered on the Chancay river valley (approximately 80 kilometers north of Lima) from c. 1000 C.E. until their conquest by the Chimú and then the Inka in the fifteenth century.

Chimú

950–1470 C.E.

Luxury goods abounded in the Kingdom of Chimor, which controlled parts of the northern Peruvian coast for several centuries.

Sicán

800–1250 C.E.

The Sicán culture was located on the north coast of Peru, and is sometimes referred to as Lambayeque.

Inka

1438–1532 C.E.

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Inka textiles, ceramics and architecture all reflect the power and ambition of their extensive empire.

Ancient Colombian Chiefdoms

c.500 B.C.E.–c.1600 C.E.

The Quimbaya and Tairona cultures from what is today Colombia used gold not as currency, but to assert the semi-divine status of their rulers.