Photo Gallery

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
La civilisation Chavin, connue surtout par ses œuvres en pierre, appartient à l’époque formative du Pérou précolombien.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
L'un des abris sous roche de Pizacoma (département de Puno) est orné de peintures qui représentent une scène de chasse à la vigogne et qui auraient une antiquité d'environ 10’000 ans.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
La religion Chavin est marquée par un culte rendu en l'honneur du condor. Sa représentation, très schématisée, figure sur des dalles qui ornent le temple de la station éponyme de la Cordillère.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Dans le temple souterrain de Chavin les archéologues ont découvert des dalles montrant la silhouette du puma, un dieu qui sera craint et vénéré pendant toute l'époque précolombienne.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Entre les scènes peintes des abris sous roche de Pizacoma figurent des signes géométriques dont la signification exacte nous échappe.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Machu Picchu, la cité sanctuaire consacrée par les Incas au soleil, ne fut découverte qu'en 1911. Elle se situe dans la Cordillère des Andes, au nord du Cuzco, à une altitude de 3000 mètres.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Andenes, terrasses de cultures incaïques de Pisac (département du Cuzco).

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Les ruines de Machu Picchu sont dominées par une colline au sommet de laquelle se trouve un monument taillé dans un seul bloc de granit, appelé Intihuatana, c'est-à-dire la «pierre où l'on attache le soleil». Il s'agit sans doute d'un lieu de culte. - 1969

A golden breast ornament from the Tolima culture, Colombia, depicting a bird-human hybrid with an openwork central section and an anchor-like base (10.5 x 19.2 cm, 184 g). Museo del Oro, Bogotá, Colombia. - Book: Picture 63 - Colombia - 1973

Monolithic statue from the ‘archaeological park’ of San Agustín (Huila Department, Colombia). The frequent depiction of human figures with big cat teeth bears witness to the jaguar cult that once prevailed here and, in conjunction with the child, suggests cannibalistic rites. The heyday of this culture is thought to have been around the time of Christ’s birth: by the time the Spanish arrived, it had long since died out. - Book: Picture 56 - Colombia - 1973

This statue is thought to depict a sun god holding two mazas (ceremonial staffs) in his hands and wearing the symbol of the tree of life on his headband. The various styles demonstrate that San Agustín served as a place of worship for centuries. Luis Duque Gomez, who has been looking after the ‘Parque’ for 25 years, distinguishes three phases. It remains a mystery why this culture did not spread to its wider surroundings, as other cultures in South America did. - Book: Picture 59 - Colombia - 1973

Cañari ‘horseman-shaped’ vessel, Cañar and Azuay provinces, Ecuador (height 16 cm). Period of Integration, 500 to 1400 AD. Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador, Quito. - Book: Picture 69 - Ecuador - 1977

Vase in the shape of a kneeling figure from the Vicús culture, northern Peru. Vicús is regarded as a phase of experimentation, chronologically classified as a late phase of the Formative Period, as a wide variety of forms and technical solutions appear in pottery. Private collection, Lima, Peru. - Book: Picture 76 - Peru - 1969

Moche jug depicting a man and a house on a cubic body. The Mochica culture, sometimes also referred to as Proto-Chimú, flourished on the coast of northern Peru, around Trujillo, at roughly the same time as the Nazca culture in the south. Mochica pottery is effectively an ethnological record, as it depicts every detail of daily life. Private collection, Switzerland. - Private collection, Switzerland. – Book: Image 70 – Peru – 1969

Copper death mask from the Chimú culture, Peru (height 22 cm). The Chimú were regarded as the most outstanding gold and silversmiths of the pre-Inca and Inca periods. Following the subjugation of the Chimú, the Incas brought the finest artists to Cuzco. Museo Arqueológico Brüning, Lambayeque, Peru. - Book: Picture 72 - Peru - 1977

A vase-shaped ‘rumba ball’ filled with grains, featuring an anthropomorphic neck and two small monkeys perched on top. Santa pottery from the Huari period (height 21 cm). Museo Regional de Ancash, Huaraz, Peru. - Book: Picture 67 - Peru - 1976

One of the few, if not the only, textiles to have survived from the Chavín culture: painted cotton, once again featuring the familiar motifs of fangs, feathered serpents and condor talons. Museo Amano, Lima, Peru. - Book: Picture 62 - Peru - 1976

A huaco, or stirrup-shaped vessel, from the coastal Chavín culture, Chiclayo Valley, Peru (height 23 cm). A chameleon or cat-like creature in the black pottery characteristic of Chavín. Brüning Archaeological Museum, Lambayeque, Peru. - Book: Picture 65 - Peru - 1976

Detail of a mummy shroud (manto) from the Paracas Necropolis culture, featuring human figures holding fans and ceremonial staffs. Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología, Lima, Peru. - Book: Picture 71 - Peru - 1977

Vessel with a double spout and loop handles from the Nazca culture. This culture, which flourished during the Classical Period of pre-Columbian Peru between 100 and 800 AD in the coastal valleys of Ica, Pisco and Nazca, influenced both the surrounding areas and later cultures, right up to the Incas, with its outstanding pottery featuring vibrant colours. Museo Regional de Ica, Peru. - Book: Picture 68 - Peru - 1969