The Andes region extends along the west coast of South America from Ecuador to Argentina. The Inka (Inca) Empire was the latest of a long list of cultures to emerge here prior to the Spanish conquest. The early Chavín and Cupisnique cultures created remarkable works in stone and metal. The desert climate of Peru’s south coast has preserved evidence of strong textile traditions, including those of the Paracas, Nasca, and Wari societies. On Peru’s north coast, the Moche, Lambayeque and Chimú cultures had celebrated potters and metalsmiths.
