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Back in 2021, the British Museum’s major temporary exhibition Peru: a journey in time showcased the South American country’s rich archaeological record. Two years later, the museum has now launched its first permanent display dedicated to Peruvian and Andean cultures. The large glass case – housed within the Wellcome Trust Gallery – contains more than 50 objects from modern Peru and Bolivia, representing both Pre-Columbian and present-day stories, spanning thousands of years, and reflecting the diversity of environments (high mountains, tropical forest, coastal land, and arid desert) that the region’s inhabitants knew and continue to experience.
An Inca paccha, or ceremonial water vessel, with agricultural motifs.
Two main themes are the land and the ocean, which were viewed by Pre-Columbian cultures as powerful living forces that could be dangerous but also offered healing, protection, and the means of survival. In the maritime displays, objects from shells and ceramics to ceremonial oars explore mythical narratives of the ocean, the symbolic meaning of marine creatures like spiny oysters and orcas, and traditions of sailing and fishing in totora reed boats. They also address modern concerns: the impact of climate change and illegal fishing.
As for terrestrial topics, we learn about ancient farming practices, as well as the history of cultivating maize, potatoes, and chilli peppers in the region. Other artefacts represent Pre-Hispanic rites to boost the fertility of the land and nourish crops and animals, as well as ceremonies held in honour of Pachamama, Mother Earth, which included the brewing of chicha, an alcoholic drink made from fermented purple maize, and chewing coca leaves.
A highlight is a colourful collection of Nasca pottery dating to 200 BC-AD 650. The Nasca people inhabited one of the most arid regions in the world, and created huge geoglyphs depicting geometric shapes and animals that are today known as the Nasca Lines. As well as their characterful ceramics, they also produced textiles richly decorated with hummingbird motifs, which are also on show at the British Museum.
The region’s long history of textile production helps to weave together ancient and modern ideas: as well as the Nasca cloths, we see vibrant negrería dance cloaks that represent a satirical tradition sparked by the abolition of slavery in Peru in 1854, and a modern artwork created using weaving techniques from four periods of Peruvian history: Wari, Inca, Colonial, and Republican. The enduring impression is of distinctive and fascinating cultures that continue to influence and inspire the inhabitants of this region and the wider world today.
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