92 



THE IXC AS 



show a degree of culture far in advance of that attahied in any other part 

 of this continent in prehistoric times. Unlike the ancient peoples of 

 Mexico and Central America the Peruvians had no written language. 

 They were tillers of the soil and raised maize, potatoes, oca, quinua, 

 beans, coca, and cotton. The Incas domesticated the llama, which was 

 used as a beast of burden. They excelled in the manufacture and decora- 

 tion of pottery vessels, in metal work, and in textile fabrics. In the case 



PERUVIAN MUMMY BUNDLES AND MUMMY 



The ancient Peruvians wrapped their dead in fabrics of fine cotton and wool, then covering with 

 a sack of strong cloth. The mummy "bundle" thus produced was often given a "false head" of cloth 

 tilled with cotton or vegetable fibre. Climatic conditions in Peru have preserved these mummies and 

 their wrappings during many centuries. 



directly in front of the entrance are displayed gold and silver objects, 

 such as beads, cups, pins and ear ornaments, which show 

 the high degree of skill attained in the beating, soldering 

 and casting of metals. In weaving they were perhaps 



preeminent among prehistoric peoples, many of their .specimens exhibited 

 here being unsurpassed at the present day. The materials 

 used were cotton and the wool of the llama, alpaca, and 



vicuna. In the first cases on the right are examples of these textiles 



with looms and shuttles. [The musical instruments of ancient Peru 



are discussed in Guide Leaflet No. 11.] 



Gold and 

 Silver 



Textiles 



