Middle Horizon
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Middle Horizon (550 - 1000 A.D.)
The Middle Horizon appears to have been dominated by the Wari tradition that imposed its political and economic structure on the entire Peruvian territory, part of Northern Chile and Bolivia, pushing out as far as the present-day Brazilian territory in the area of the Amazon Forest. Little is known about this great empire that subjected many different peoples to its control, altering the previous political, economic and social system. For almost 500 years the Wari domination was total. Like the reasons for its origin, little is known about the reasons for its decline.
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Middle Horizon (550 - 1000 A.D.)
In this era two centres of power expanded: Wari that occupied the entire plateau area and the coast of Peru, and Tiwanaku (in its classical period) which extended its influence into the southern area. |
The objects |
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BagPerù, Southern Coast, Huari Culture, Middle Horizon, VI – X centuries A.D. Two squares of cloth sewn together with a weft cloth face and closed arras, in cotton and camel wool. 24x44 cm. Collection no. 74. The bag is made from white two-ply cotton (warp) and blue, dark blue, red, yellow, green and brown single-ply lama wool (weft), with a red, blue and black camel wool fringe. The pattern is made up of rectangles alternating in bands. The bag was used for ceremonial purposes and to transport important materials. This is not a bag for transporting coca, which was transported in a smaller pouch. |
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BowlPeru, Huari Culture, Viñaque Style, Middle Horizon, IX century A.D.. Modelled terracotta, slipped and painted in cream, black, red and grey-green. 7.5x12.5 cm. Collection no. P45FE. The truncated cone-shaped vessel has flat rim and base. The anthropomorphic handles show evidence of facial paints. The external surfaces show figures in four panels separated by a white line, with symbols of mythical deities made up of feline heads, snake bodies and tails of birds of prey. The origin of the symbology is typical of plateau cultures, with strong Tiahuanaco influences expressed using the Huari iconography. |
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Double-spouted bottle with bridge handlesPerù, Southern Coast, First Intermediate Period, Nasca Culture, Phase III, I -III centuries A.D. Modelled terracotta, slipped and painted, oxidative firing. 14.5x12 cm. Concave-base terracotta, dark-red slip-veneer, decorated in black, cream, red and grey-green. The scene at the middle line shows a feline figure with snake-like characteristics and side fins. The body contains stylised trophy heads. On the sides of the neck one can see two plants. Often the feline figure is represented in the act of distributing the plants contained in the body: a symbol of fertility and opulence. |
Fragment of the rim with pictures of birds of prey
Peru, Southern Coast, Middle Horizon, V-VIII centuries A.D. |
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