Andean textiles

The Andean textile tradition once spanned from the Pre-Columbian to the Colonial era throughout the western coast of South America, but was mainly concentrated in was is now Peru. The arid desert conditions along the coast of Peru have allowed for the preservation of these dyed textiles, which can date to 6000 years old.^[1] Many of the surviving textile samples were from funerary bundles, however, these textiles also encompassed a variety of functions. These functions included the use of woven textiles for ceremonial clothing or cloth armor^[2] as well as knotted fibers for record-keeping.^[3] The textile arts were instrumental in political negotiations, and were used as diplomatic tools that were exchanged between groups.^[4] Textiles were also used to communicate wealth, social status, and regional affiliation with others.^[5] The cultural emphasis on the textile arts was often based on the believed spiritual and metaphysical qualities of the origins of materials used, as well as cosmological and symbolic messages within the visual appearance of the textiles. Traditionally, the thread used for textiles was spun from indigenous cotton plants, as well as alpaca and llama wool.^[6]

^ Tiffany, Leigh Anne (September 16, 2017). "Blue jeans have a 6,000 year-old Peruvian ancestor". PBS NewsHour.
^ Lechtman, Heather. "Technologies of Power: The Andean Case." In Configurations of Power: Holistic Anthropology in Theory and Practice, ed. John S. Henderson and Patricia J. Netherly, 254. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1993.
^ Stone, Rebecca R. (2012). Art of the Andes: From Chavin to Inca. New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-20415-3.
^ Murra, John V. (August 1962). "Cloth and Its Functions in the Inca State". American Anthropological Association. 64 (4): 710–728. doi:10.1525/aa.1962.64.4.02a00020. JSTOR 667788.
^ Paul, Anne (1990). Paracas Ritual Attire: Symbols of Authority in Ancient Peru. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-2230-4.
^ Stone-Miller, Rebecca (1992). To Weave for the Sun:Ancient Andean Textiles in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-27793-5.

[1] Tiffany, Leigh Anne (September 16, 2017). "Blue jeans have a 6,000 year-old Peruvian ancestor". PBS NewsHour.

[:1-2] Lechtman, Heather. "Technologies of Power: The Andean Case." In Configurations of Power: Holistic Anthropology in Theory and Practice, ed. John S. Henderson and Patricia J. Netherly, 254. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1993.

[:2-3] Stone, Rebecca R. (2012). Art of the Andes: From Chavin to Inca. New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-20415-3.

[:3-4] Murra, John V. (August 1962). "Cloth and Its Functions in the Inca State". American Anthropological Association. 64 (4): 710–728. doi:10.1525/aa.1962.64.4.02a00020. JSTOR 667788.

[:6-5] Paul, Anne (1990). Paracas Ritual Attire: Symbols of Authority in Ancient Peru. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-2230-4.

[:7-6] Stone-Miller, Rebecca (1992). To Weave for the Sun:Ancient Andean Textiles in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-27793-5.

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