A Survey of Ancient Peruvian Art. 325 



seeking for a good English equivalent for this term, decided to 

 adopt one that was suggested by Aegean archaeology — hence 

 "Tiahuanaco I," and also "Tiahuanaco 11." 



The architecture of Tiahuanaco I was true megalithic masonry. 

 In building a wall, the early Tiahuanaco people adopted the 

 simple but effective method of setting up at intervals large 

 vertical oblong monoliths. In the edges of these nearest to the 

 next pillar grooves were often cut from the base to the top and 

 into them the builders fitted other blocks of stone by means of 

 which a wall of comparatively small stones was made between 

 the large ones. 



In all probability Tiahuanaco I was contemporary, at least 

 in part, with Proto-Chimu and Proto-Nasca. Nevertheless, as 

 will be developed later, there is no trace of the early coast types 

 to be found associated with Tiahuanaco I deposits. It is, in 

 the writer's opinion, impossible to say with accuracy whether 

 or not any pottery or textiles have survived from the Tiahuanaco 

 I period. Posnansky, however, figures two rude stone heads used, 

 apparently, as wall-ornaments, dating from this period.'^ 



Even a brief study of Tiahuanaco I reveals the fact that it 

 is totally unlike either of the probably contemporaneous coast- 

 cultures. What, then, is it like? Is it an indigenous and autoch- 

 thonous culture? The whole trend of modern investigation into 

 the ancient cultures of America discourages belief in the autoch- 

 thonous nature of the Tiahuanaco I culture. It must, therefore, 

 have been derived from some other region. As it obviously is 

 not connected, even remotely, with any of the other cultures 

 in South America that can possibly have been contemporary with 

 it, save for one possible exception, we must study, however 

 briefly, the strands of evidence that bind it to the group of cul- 

 tures which constitute that exception. It is, then, suggested that 

 the erectors of the Tiahuanaco I culture were related to, or even 

 members of, the great Arawakan stock of Brazil. This is as 

 yet but a theory. Facts, however, lend it a certain color of truth. 

 These facts we will briefly outline. 



Far to the south-east of Lake Titicaca, in the Bolivian province 

 of Santa Cruz, is a site called Samaipata which yields cut rocks 

 very suggestive of the stone-work of Tiahuanaco I. We owe 



"Posnansky, 191 1, p. 33. 



