The Incas And Their Ancestors

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But this glittering culture only obscured the rich & diverse civilizations that had preceded it: Chavin, Moche, Nazca, Tiwanaku, Huari, & Chimu. Described as a ”masterly study” & an ”outstanding volume” on its first publication, The Incas & Their Ancestors quickly established itself as the best general introduction to the cultures & civilizations of ancient Peru. Now this classic text has been fully updated for the revised edition. New discoveries over the last decade are integrated throughout. The occupation of Peru`s desert coast can now be traced back to 12, 000 BC & ensuing maritime adaptations are examined in early littoral societies that mummified their dead & others that were mound builders. The spread of Andean agriculture is related to fresh data on climate, & protracted drought is identified as a recurrent contributor to the rise & fall of civilizations in the Cordillera. The results of recent excavations enliven understanding of coastal Moche & Nazca societies & the ancient highland states of Huari & Tiwanaku. Architectural models accompanying burials provide fresh interpretations of the palaces of imperial Chan Chan, while the origins of the Incas are given new clarity by a spate of modern research on America`s largest native empire.