The Ancient Kingdoms of PeruPenguin Books, 1997 - 220 pages This essential book draws on the evidence of recent excavations of Peruvian sites in a remarkable survey of the civilizations which preceded the Incas. As recently as 1987, robbers discovered by far the most spectacular vestiges of the Moche people, who ruled much of Peru for the first six centuries of the Christian era. This find--a royal burial chamber shoulder-deep in gold and silver ornaments and carvings studded with jewels--has provided many powerful insights into their way of life, as Nigel Davies shows. Patterns representing a condor, a killer whale and even an 80-meter monkey, visible only from the air, are etched into a bare expanse of desert at Nazca. Davies analyzes and assesses the latest scholarly theories surrounding one of the world's great enigmas. He then turns to the key power centers of the 'middle period' in Huari and Tiahuanaco, the great coastal civilization of Chimor (the first for which we have written accounts), and its eventual defeat by the Incas around 1470 AD. Alongside the often biased conquistador chronicles, archaeology can now illuminate the Inca imperial cult, their methods of agriculture, road-building, town-planning and settlement. In this lively and compelling overview, Davies makes accessible the latest research on all these ancient kingdoms of Peru. |
Contents
LIST OF FIGURES | 9 |
LIST OF MAPS | 11 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xi | 13 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
accounts altitude ancient Andean archaeologists architecture Atahualpa Aveni built burial Cahuachi Cajamarca capital Casma Casma Valley centres ceque ceramics ceremonial Cerro Chan Chan Chavin Chile Chimor Chimu Chotuna chroniclers Cieza de León coast coastal Collao complex conquered construction Coricancha culture curacas Cuzco deity described Dumbarton Oaks Research earlier early Ecuador empire evidence excavated figure gold Huaca Rajada Huari Huascar Huayna Capac human iconography imperial important Inca conquest Inca ruler Indians inland kilometres kingdom known Lake Titicaca Lambayeque lands later Lima llama major Manco metres Middle Horizon military mitimaes Moche Naylamp Nazca lines northern Oaks Research Library Pachacamac Pachacutec palaces pampa Paracas period Peru Peruvian phase Pikillacta Pizarro pre-Inca principal provinces pyramids quipu region Río Moche Valley ritual served shrine Sican situated Spaniards Spanish stone suggests survive temple textiles Tiahuanaco tomb Tumebamba Tupac Valley of Cuzco Viracocha walls warriors