» 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.

The Staff God at Chavín de Huántar and beyond

Chorrera

c. 1300–300 B.C.E.

Chorrera Ceramics from Ecuador

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.

Monkey with Spiral Tail, Nasca Geoglyph, approximately 2000 years old. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Nasca art: Sacred linearity and bold designs

Nasca ceramics, an introduction

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.

Paracas embroidered mantle, 100 B.C.E.-100 C.E., camelid fiber, 105 1/8 x 51 15/16 inches (267 x 131.9 cm) Brooklyn Museum

Paracas textiles, an introduction

Paracas Supernatural Bird Mantle

Feline face bottle (detail), Paracas, 4th–3rd century B.C.E., ceramic and post-fired paint, 17.8 x 14.3 x 13.7 cm, from the Ica Valley, Peru (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

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.

Moche culture, an introduction

The Moche royal tombs of Sipán

Pair of Earflares, Winged Messengers

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

Tiwanaku, an introduction

Semi-subterranean Court at the site of Tiwanaku

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.