Pre-Incan textiles

Peru has a notable collection of preserved textiles because of its dry coastal areas and burial customs. The Chavín are credited with invention of the backstrap loom and many weaving techniques. The Paracas and Nazca cultures came after the Chavín and were known for their fine embroidery and tapestry work. The Wari, a war-like culture, were the predecessors to the Inca—known for their highly abstract tapestries (featuring deities etc.). The Chimú (from the North Coast), later conquered by the Inca, are important because many of their designs can be traced back to this pre-Inca culture. Chimú designs often show flora and fauna inside of geometrical patterns.