Pre-Inca Culture (600 BC - 200 EC) established on the peninsula of Paracas, influencing the area which is now
known as the department of Ica.
Characterized by their big, underground necropolis where bodies were
preserved as mummies wrapped in luxurious cloths and mantles, forming conical
bales that were conserved under excellent conditions by the characteristics of
the sands of the area, and craneal trepanations, . On their first stage the
mummies were located in collective tombs, dug in the form of caverns. On their
second stage the mummies were buried directly in the earth.
Their knowledge of medicine was advanced, just as they demonstrated, the
remains of surgical operations to the brain (craneal trepanations) with the
patients' survival. These people used to deform their skulls while still alive,
givenig them a 'lengthened head '.
Their textile art is considered as the best of all ancient cultures.
They used vicuña wool or cotton; harmonious and with many colors, animal
designs, anthropomorphous and geometric, some included feathers.
Their ceramic did not reach remarkable development. Paracas ceramics,
influenced by the Chavin culture,
included simple shapes, with many colors and illustrations as well as drawings
that are similar to the Nazca culture.
The double-peaked bottles united with a handle bridge; one of these peaks was
sometimes replaced with forms of heads of birds, with the shape of animals or
anthropomorphous and the body painted in the bottle. They also highlighted their
plates, cups and single-necked bottles. Their ceramic was made without
molsd and baked in closed ovens.
Their economic activity was based on agriculture and fishing; the agrarian
activity had the intelligent handling of the waters (aqueducts) on deserts, that
progressed by means of artificial watering channels and use of the guano a
fertilizer.
The main cultural center is located in Cerro Colorado,
whithin the National Reserve of Paracas.
See Site Museum Julio C. Tello
Museums
To
appreciate their invaluable ceramic pieces, textile and funeral bales you can go
to the Archaeological museums o Peru, Larco Herrera, and Museo de la
Nación in the city of Lima.