The arid coastal desert of Peru is crossed by many valleys with rivers fed by rain from the Andes. Here agriculture, along with hunting, fishing and trade supported different cultures for thousands of years. One of these was the Paracas culture (about 600-150 BC) situated on a peninsula near the fertile Pisco Valley.

The Paracas site contained several extraordinary cemeteries. The hot, dry conditions kept the burials wonderfully preserved for over 2000 years. Among the dead were many people, clearly of importance to the community, who were buried in layers of exquisite textiles with offerings of gold jewellery, imported shells, feathers and pottery. Much labour and great skill were required to make the textiles. The best fibre for dyeing brilliant colours came from the animals, alpaca and vicuña, which had to be imported from the highlands. Very fine thread was spun, both for weaving the textiles and for the meticulous and laborious embroidery that was one of the most important textile techniques.

The textiles had two distinct styles: outlines of strange cat-like figures and humans with staring eyes – possibly important deities – and solid embroidered figures. These textiles were important expressions of Paracas religious beliefs. Some of the images represent costumed priests and dancers performing agricultural fertility rituals.