Ancient Peru

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Peruvian territory was inhabited 14,000 years ago by hunters and gatherers. Subsequent developments include the appearance of sedentary communities that developed agriculture and irrigation, and the emergence of complex socio-political hierarchies that created sophisticated civilizations, technology and monumental construction.

1 Andean cultural formations
2 Gallery
3 Ancient Cultures in Peruvian History Time Line
4 References
5 See also

Andean cultural formations

According to some, lithics found in the caves of Piquimachay (Ayacucho), Chivateros, Lauricocha, Paijan, and Toquepala provide the evidence for the date.
The oldest securely dated remains appear in 10000 BCE in the Guitarrero Cave, Yungay, then in the coast (in the districts of Chilca and Paracas) and in the highlands (in the Callejón de Huaylas).
3000 years later (7000 BCE), people became sedentary (Jiskairumoko, Kotosh, Huaca Prieta) so they began to cultivate plants such as maize and cotton (Gossypium barbadense) and herd newly domesticated animals (camelids, such as llamas and alpacas). Subsequent technical developments include innovations in spinning and knitting of cotton and wool. There is also evidence for some basketry, metalwork (gold beads) and the first potteries during this period.
Zaña Valley, northern Peru, irrigation canals have been dated to 5400 and 6700 years ago (3400 BCE and 5700 BCE) and show communal work.^[1]^[2]
Norte Chico civilization (Also known as the Caral-Supe civilization, nearly from 3,500 BCE to 1,800 BCE)"^[3]
Buena Vista, Peru, 4200-year-old observatory, Lima Region (2200 BCE)
Ventarrón, 4000-year-old temple, Lambayeque Region, northern Peru (2000 BCE)
Chavin (900 BCE to 200 BCE)
Paracas
Moche
Nazca
Tiahuanaco
Wari
Chimu

These cultures developed advanced techniques of cultivation, gold and silver work, pottery, metallurgy and weaving. Some of the social structures that later (around the 12th century CE) formed the base of the Inca Empire may be traced back to these previous periods.

Gallery

Ancient Cultures in Peruvian History Time Line

References

^ Heather Whipps, "Peruvian Canals Most Ancient in New World", LiveScience, 23 Dec 2005, accessed 3 Nov 2010
^ JOHN NOBLE WILFORD, "Evidence Found for Canals That Watered Ancient Peru", New York Times, 3 Jan 2006, accessed 1 Nov 2010
^ Mann, C, C., ed. (2005). 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. University of Texas. ISBN 1400032059.

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History	Aztec history		Inca history
People	Moctezuma I Moctezuma II Cuitlahuac Cuauhtémoc	K'inich Janaab' Pakal Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil Jasaw Chan K'awiil I	Manco Cápac Pachacutec Atahualpa Manco Inca
Conquest	Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire (Hernán Cortés)	Spanish conquest of Yucatán (Francisco de Montejo) Spanish conquest of Guatemala (Pedro de Alvarado)	Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire (Francisco Pizarro)
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Portal:Indigenous peoples of North America – Columbian exchange – Mesoamerican writing systems – Native American cuisine – Native American pottery – Population history of American indigenous peoples – Pre-Columbian art – Painting in the Americas before Colonization

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Ancient Peru

Contents

Andean cultural formations

Gallery

Ancient Cultures in Peruvian History Time Line

References

See also