Wari Culture (Peru)
(500 to 1000)
What happened?
The Wari were a pre-Inca civilization that flourished from about 500 to 1000 AD. The capital, Wari, was the center of civilization that covered much of the highlands and coast of Peru. The best-preserved remains are the Wari ruins. The Wari had no form of written system. Therefore, it is difficult to collect information.
Very early on, the Wari expanded their territory with the oracle center of Pachamama. Over time, the Wari became dominant in much of the earlier Moche and later Chimú cultures. The reason is unknown. Military conquest, religious conversion and/or the spread of agricultural knowledge may be the basis.
Due to centuries of drought, the Wari culture began to deteriorate around 800. In 1000, the city of Wari was dramatically depopulated. Buildings had been deliberately blocked, as if the Wari were planning to return.
There is some evidence that interpersonal violence suggests warfare among rival groups after the fall of the Wari state culture.
Comb
± 100 to ± 800
Our comb comes from Chancay and is therefore automatically linked to this Pre-Columbian culture. However, the dating of the artifact is older. The Chancay grew out of the Wari culture previously established in the region. It is therefore more logical to associate this comb with the Wari.
The comb is well preserved and still has its original thread that holds it together firmly. The comb has spines of a cactus-like plant that form the teeth. This type of comb was probably used to tighten the warp threads in weaving. Combs have also been found with nits or lice eggs in it. This not such item.
Wood. Found: Chancay, Peru (JN0541)
Spindle Whorl
± 600 to ± 900
The Wari are best known for their textiles. It is well preserved in the desert tombs. The standardization of textile motifs serves as artistic proof of state control over elite art production. Tapestries, hats, and tunics for high officials are pieces that were recovered. There is about 9 to 14 km of thread in a tunic. They contain highly abstracted versions of typical Andean artistic motifs. It is possible that these designs served a code to keep out foreign designs. The geometric motifs made the wearer's chest appear larger to reflect their high rank.
They also produced highly refined metalwork and ceramics, with motifs like the textiles. Silver and copper were the most used metals. Gold Wari artifacts have also been preserved. The most metal objects were bowls, jewelry, cloak pins, leaf figures, mummy bundle masks and qiru (= drinking vessel). Given the large amount of pottery tools, pit kilns, firing rooms, potsherds, and ceramic molds, Conchopata seems to have been the ceramic center. Ceramics were typically polychrome (= multicolored) and often depicted food and animals.