Ancient Andes

Monumental geoglyphs, ancient cities, beautiful textiles, and masterful stonework—dive into the history of the Ancient Andes

What is the ancient Andes?

The ancient Andes refers to Indigenous societies that flourished in the region of the Andes Mountain range, including parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina

Early Andes

Get to know the vibrant ancient cultures that flourished in the early Andes during the prehistoric, Formative, and Early Horizon periods

The Prehistoric Period

This period includes periods often referred to as the Lithic and Preceramic

The Formative, Early Horizon, and Early Intermediate Periods

c. 1800 BCE–600 BCE

Many cultures, from Chavín to the Nazca, flourished during this time

Monkey nazca line geoglyph

Later Andes (Middle Horizon, Late Intermediate, and Late Horizon)

c. 600–1534 CE

Get to know the cultures of later periods in the Andes during the Middle Horizon, Late Intermediate, and Late Horizon periods

The Inka

The Inka (Inca) civilization had advanced engineering, monumental architecture at places like Machu Picchu, and sophisticated systems for agriculture and governance.

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