[BY G. A. DORSEY, W. C. E. ASS'T TO PERU AND CHILI.]

T has been previously intimated that there existed in ancient Peru four different peoples, in many respects closely related, but probably of different language stocks. It is an undoubted fact that at the entrance of the Spaniards into Peru, the two coast peoples had been subjected by the Incas or Quichua stock. The people of the north coast, or the Yuncas, had been conquered in the early part of the fifteenth century. The southern coast people, or Atacameños, had been conquered in very remote times. Besides these three stocks it is probable that still a fourth race existed in the great plateau of Bolivia to the south of Lake Titicaca. Whether the system of stupenduous ruins of Tiahuanaco can be ascribed to these people or whether they were built by the ancestors of the founders of Cuzco, is a question still undecided, and one that is wrapped in mystery. Certain it is that the ruins of Tiahuanaco are among the most ancient of this continent.

anaco.

Let us now examine in some detail a representative community of these four peoples and in addition we shall take a hasty view of the plain of TiahuThe undoubted center and capital of the Yunca empire was at Moche, near the modern town of Trujillo, but my work in that locality was so limited that I must speak of some other locality belonging to the same empire.

The Santa Valley is easily the locality next in importance to Trujillo and is in many respects equally well known, but for some cause the contents of the graves, and this almost furnishes our sole means of knowledge, are by no means so well preserved as the less famous burying grounds of the south. Of necessity then we take Ancon as furnishing the best preserved and most complete evidences of the daily life, habits and customs of the ancient people. It is well to state here, however, that there are great differences among the three above mentioned localities and others in close proximty to the mint his part of the Peruvian coast. Whether these differences are due simply to local environment or are tribal peculiarities, it is now difficult to determine. Putting aside the differences we have just mentioned there are so many things

in common among these localities, there is so much of similarity in their textile fabrics, pottery, metal work and architecture that there was undoubtedly a constant bond of union between them so that what we shall say of Ancon will apply in a more or less general way to the different localities throughout the region. Of the details in the method of work and the exact position and order in which the graves occur in Ancon I shall not speak here, for in another place this has been done with some detail.*

The first feeling one has after having examined any large quantity of material from Ancon is that the civilization there shown must be very ancient. There are evidences of this on every side. The Spaniards upon their arrival in Peru were struck by the large number of domestic animals possessed by the Peruvians. At Ancon the remains have been found of the llama, the vicuña, the dog. the guinea pig and many other small animals as well as many species of birds. The llama undoubtedly in its original state was one of the most timid animals in the world and probably the most difficult to domesticate. Yet for many hundred years the llama furnished the only means of burden for the ancient Peruvians as well as providing them with food and more important, wool for their clothing. Again, at Ancon are found many cereals, vegetables and fruits which had undoubtedly been brought to a high state of cultivation and Peru today produces the larg est bean and the largest grain of corn in the world. In their textile fabrics they had reached a very high state of perfection and with the most simple looms they produced garments which for texture, design and artistic beauty are not surpassed by those of any other ancient people in the world. In one sense they had reached an equally high state of progress in ceramics. The pottery of Ancon, Chimbote and Trujillo, while not displaying the same artistic taste shown in the fabrics, yet for its usefulness, serving every purpose, and for its design, showing us innumerable phases of daily life as well as many mythological representations, is of the highest value and interest. Another evidence of the remote antiquity is shown in the undoubted proof which the graves furnish for us of differences in wealth and rank. To what extent these differences prevailed it is now impossible to ascertain, yet that there were differences is easily seen. The strongest proof of wealth is shown in the garments or clothing worn by those higher in rank or wealth. The greater portion of the people wore long, sleeveless shirts made of cotton ог llama wool. As the llama was domesticated and near at hand its wool could easily be obtained. The vicuña however, had never been domesticated and does not abound in nearly so large a number as the llama, but its wool is much finer than that of the latter; so that in many graves we find the occupants clothed, not only in garments of vicuña wool, but also provided with various forms of head-dress, which often were made gorgeous with gold and silver bands and great feather plumes. It is only in graves of this kind that such emblems of power as the war-club, ceremonial slings, painted tablets and a greater variety of foods are found. Such graves as these are generally covered with a well-made roof, often of several thicknesses. Although the majority of the men were provided with fishing implements of some sort, it is

*See my article on the "Necropolis of Ancon" in the supplement of the Scientific American, September 15, 1893.

only in the graves of the well-to-do that we find the wonderfully constructed nets, often 20 ft. in length and 10 ft. wide, thus showing that fish played an important part in their diet. It is a curious fact, however, that the hook and line have only been found in two or three instances at Ancon, while this method of taking fish prevailed south of Ancon as well as in Ecuador and Columbia to the north. These gradations in life apparently were not confined to the men, but applied equally as well to the women. In their graves are found the best class of work-baskets, weaving and spinning implements, ear-rings of silver and necklaces of stone and shell, often with a silver disc attached as a pendant, and silver bracelets. In fact the position of the women in general at Ancon seems to have been a very high one and their duties evidently were not of the menial order as is generally the case with primitive civilizations. Her garments are generally finer than those of the men and her graves were equally as well made and as often provided with roofs. That she did no agricultural work is shown in the fact that all agricultural implements are always found with men. Her chief occupation was weaving, making pottery and cooking, as the abundance of cooking vessels found in her graves testify.

Even in the graves of the children great differences are found, many of them being elaborately made with the body carefully wrapped, and accompanied by vessels of food and many images of clay and wood. It is a curious fact that many of the children have been found enveloped in dog skins. Perhaps they held same belief as the Zuñis who buried a dog with a child, believing that the dog would act as a guide in the after life. These people evidently were firm in their belief of material after-existence, as is proved not only by the great care taken in preserving the dead, but in obliterating every trace of the location of the grave. The body was preserved in its original position by means of the roof which prevented the grave from filling up and as the roof was placed a foot or more beneath the surface of the ever-shifting sand, its position soon became unknown. This probably enables us to account for another curious fact of the manner in which the bodies were wrapped. In all cases the position of the head is obscured.

This was done by building up the shoulders with leaves or plants to the level of the top of the head: the whole was then wrapped in cloth. In some cases the bundle so made was provided with a false head, made to resemble the human head as much as possible. This custom has prevailed throughout the west coast of America in a more or less modified form and its object was probably the same throughout, that is, to deceive the evil spirit which was supposed to enter the graves and deprive the bodies of their heads.

It is a curious fact that no remains of dwelling houses are found within several miles of Ancon and as the plain is today absolutely barren the question has often been asked, where did these people live? By many it is thought that their dwellings were at Sierra Gorda, where there are still existing adobe ruins of considerable extent. This is disproved, however, by the fact that the burying ground of Sierra Gorda has been found and there are so many marked differences between the contents of these graves and the graves of Ancon, that we must look for their habitations in some other place. If one takes the pains it is easy to recognize the remains of an ancient acquia extending today half way across the plain of Ancon. This undoubtedly in ancient times led