The first inhabitants of Peru are believed to have crossed into the Americas during the last Ice Age when lower sea levels exposed a land-bridge that joined the continents of Asia and North America. The waters have now risen again and the land bridge is lost beneath the Bering Straits.

These nomadic groups of hunters worked their way southwards across the Americas about 20,000 BC. Some groups eventually settled along the fertile valleys of the coast, as well as in the highlands and tropical forest regions of present day Peru.

There were highly developed cultures flourishing in Peru long before the rise of the Inca Empire. Evidence of such early civilisations include the old temple complexes at the site of Caral (3000 to 1800 BC), excellent stone carvings, ceramics, metallurgy (copper, gold and silver), temples and pyramids from the Chavin Cult (1000 BC to 200 BC) and well preserved pottery and textiles from the Paracas and Nasca Cultures (200 BC to 700 AD).

Also around the same time the Moche culture produced high quality pottery on which intricate details of their life were painted.

The Moche also built massive 'pyramids' such as the Huacas del Sol y Luna (Temples of the Sun and the Moon) near Trujillo and at Sipan near Chiclayo. The excavation of the "Lord of Sipan" funeral site which started in 1987 has often been described as the single most momentous archaeological find since Tutankhamen.

Lord of Sipan

Between AD 700 and 1000 two related but distinct people dominated the Andes: The Tiahuanaco (on the south side of Lake Titicaca) and the Huari (near Ayacucho in the central highlands). The main emphasis in Tiahuanaco pottery and stonework was on symbolic elements featuring condors, pumas and snakes which represented the gods of the sky, earth and the underworld respectively.

The Huari were vigorous military conquerors who attempted to subdue the cultures that they conquered by imposing their own values. Thus Huari influence is noted in the art, technology and architecture of most areas of Peru. However the Huari were not popular, and in their turn, were replaced by other cultures.

The Chimu culture (AD 1000 to 1450) from the Trujillo region of the northern coast dominated the period before the rise of the Incas. Its capital was Chan Chan, famous as the largest adobe city in the world. Chan Chan has been responsible for some of the greatest treasures found in Peru. Chimu metalwork is some of the most sophisticated to be found. When conquered by the Incas the last Chimu ruler was taken to Cusco with his best artisans and the Chimu empire was broken up. So ended the last great empire before the Incas.

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Office Address: Calle Garcilaso 265, interior patio 2nd floor, Cusco, Peru (just 2 minutes walk from the main Plaza de Armas). If you are coming to Cusco please bring a couple of second hand clothes, toys, school equipment and drop them off in our office. We will help distribute the items to people who really need them in small village schools and communities in the Andes. For more details visit our web page www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/projects  A map of our office can be found by clicking here.

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