Over the following fifteen hundred years, Peru's peoples saw the rise of a number of “pre-Inca cultures”. Among the most important:
- On the coast: Paracas, Nazca and Chimu
- In the mountains: Chavin and Tiahuanaco
Paracas
The Paracas culture (600 BC – 200 AD) flourished on the Paracas peninsula, in what is today the department of Ica.
Their medical knowledge was highly advanced, as shown by evidence of surgical operations on the brain (cranial trepanations). Bodies were preserved in a vast underground necropolis, wrapped in prized garments and cloaks, well preserved thanks to optimal conditions (such as the sandy composition of the local soil) and the cranial trepanation technique. In an early phase, mummies were placed in collective burials dug in the shape of caverns, while later they were buried directly in the ground.
The Paracas were also masters of the art of weaving, and are considered the finest weavers of all the ancient Peruvian cultures. They used vicuña wool or cotton in many colors. The most common motifs were animal themes, along with anthropomorphic and geometric designs.
Their pottery was influenced by the Chavin culture and was based on simple shapes, in many colors, with figures and even motifs similar to those of the Nazca culture. The pottery was made without the use of molds and fired in closed kilns.
Their economy was based on agriculture and fishing; they excelled at farming thanks to the clever use of irrigation (aqueducts) in desert regions, along with artificial channels and the use of guano as fertilizer.
Nazca
One of the greatest civilizations of ancient Peru, the Nazca culture flourished between 100 and 600 AD near the arid southern coast of the country, in the valleys of Chincha, Pisco, Ica and Nazca. Heavily influenced by the Paracas, the Nazca excelled at craftsmanship (such as pottery and textiles) and technology (an advanced system of underground aqueducts), and are best known for their geoglyphs, better known as the “Nazca Lines”.
The Nazca culture is distinguished by its distinctive polychrome pottery, painted in at least 15 different colors, but also by its technically complex yarns and textiles, woven in wool and cotton by women in their homes.
The main testament to this civilization is the impressive “Nazca Lines”. These gigantic geometric figures are drawings of animals (some as large as a football field) etched into the desert surface on the Nazca plain. Given their simple structure, they could easily have been eroded by rain, but the dry desert climate has preserved them for hundreds of years.
The Nazca had a strong sense of urban planning; their main cultural center was the citadel of Cahuachi, built of adobe (clay bricks) and featuring ceremonial pyramids.
Chimu
Between 1200 and 1465 AD the Chimu culture flourished in the valleys of Chicama, Moche and Viru. The Chimu extended their control as far as the department of Piura in the north, while to the south they reached the Carabayllo valley near Lima (the Rimac valley). Their capital was Chan Chan (5 km from present-day Trujillo). They spoke Muchic and worshipped the god Naylamp.
The Chimu are considered the finest pre-Inca goldsmiths; they used sophisticated techniques such as lamination, the use of molds, hammering, welding, repoussé and others. The finest examples of their refined art are masks, headbands, crowns, earrings, rings and ceremonial daggers, which can be admired at the “Royal Tombs of Sipan” museum in Lambayeque (northwestern Peru).
In construction, the Chimu used adobe to build palaces, fortresses and temples. Their masterpieces are the citadels of Chan Chan and Paramonga. Their hydraulic technology included irrigation via artificial reservoirs, canals and aqueducts. In pottery production, they mainly used one color, black in its various shades, and occasionally brown.
Chavin
The Chavin lived between 1500 and 300 BC between the Marañon River and the “Callejon de Huaylas”, in the Andean basin; they are the oldest pre-Inca civilization.
In their early years, the Chavin were mainly hunters. Later the area became an urban center, they developed farming techniques, began raising livestock, working metals, mastering the art of weaving, practicing religious rituals, and also became skilled warriors.
The Chavin proved to be excellent architects, using complex architectural innovations to adapt to the harsh environment of the Peruvian highlands. Their carving technique culminated in the construction of temples, visible above all at their main cultural center, Chavin de Huantar, also known as the Chavin archaeological site. This is made up of several impressive stone temples and dozens of carved stones. Sculptures of the famous lance-shaped ceremonial knives, such as the “Raimondi Stele” and the “Lanzon Monolith”, are found in the temple at Chavin de Huantar. Historians have noted a certain similarity with comparable artifacts found in Polynesia and Easter Island.
Chavin de Huantar was first described by a Spanish chronicler in 1521. This site and others of the Chavin culture were studied by Julio C. Tello between 1919 and 1941; more recent explorations include those of Luis Lumbreras and Richard Burger.
Tiahuanaco
Tiahuanaco is a pre-Inca culture that flourished between 400 BC and 120 AD and developed on the Collao plateau (an area around Lake Titicaca); their domain extended as far as Arequipa, the north coast of Chile, and much of Bolivia. Their cultural influence also reached the coast and the Andean part of present-day northern Peru. The main cultural center was the citadel of Tiahuanaco – today located in Bolivia, a few hours' drive from La Paz.
The Tiahuanaco were farmers (potatoes and quinoa, a Peruvian grain), raised llamas and alpacas, and fished in Lake Titicaca.
They developed a polychrome pottery decorated with geometric motifs. They had a distinctive sculptural style, with representations of anthropomorphic deities featuring elements of felines, snakes and hawks. Some sculptures reach seven meters in height.
Citadel of Tiahuanaco
The citadel of Tiahuanaco is located 21 km southeast of Lake Titicaca, in Bolivian territory. It is characterized by large stone structures: the Acapana fortress, the Kalasasaya palace, and the “Puerta del Sol” (Gate of the Sun).