NO. 8 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I913 



51 



Some of their smaller dwellings were made of reeds, while larger 

 structures were huilt of small uncut stones, sun-dried hrick, or blocks 

 of adobe. Their knowledge of weaving, pottery-making, and decora- 

 tion was surprising. They wove from native cotton and llama wool, 

 and their designs indicate changes brought about by time and other 

 influences. The native dress consisted principally of a poncho shirt, 

 a loin cloth, and sandals, with occasionally a simple head-gear. 



The pre-Columbian Peruvians of the coast knew the uses of gold. 



% ■-.- 



Fii;. 52. — Indian hut and nihabitants, with a ruin-covered hill knuwn at 

 Llaxwa, in the rear, located in the Sierras, south-east of Nasca, Peru. Photo- 

 graph by Hrdlicka. 



silver, and copper, and worked these metals to some extent, especially 

 copper or " bronze " in the manufacture of weapons. Their common 

 weapons were a metal or stone mace, a wooden club, a copper axe and 

 knife, the sling, and in some regions the bow and arrow. Their imple- 

 ments were the whorl, weaving sticks, looms, cactus-spine or bone 

 needle, bone needle-holders, sharpened sticks, copper knives and axes, 

 hoes and fishing paraphernalia, including nets, sinkers, reed-bundle 

 boats or balsas, and peculiar rafts which were paddled. 



Throughout the whole territory along the coast the people de- 

 formed the heads of their infants by applying pressure to the fore- 



