El metal en el fardo 298 de Wari Kayak

Abstract

Paracas people, as most of the cultural developments of the Early Horizon, displayed a predominant use of gold and its alloys, with crafting techniques such as hammering. However, their embossing and designs are quite simplistic. Paracas metal objects mainly represent the ornaments worn by the deities rather than a vessel for displaying their ideology.

Most of the known Paracas metallic objects proceed from Wari Kayan cemetery's bundles of the three categories that Julio C. Tello established. Such bundles contained many complete gold objects and fragments, which show a diverse production.

Metal in Paracas did not accomplish a primary role. In turn, textiles appeared as a signal of status and as a social segregator in southern Peru. The unwrapping of Bundle 298 reinforces such a statement, given the low presence of metal, and the non-existence of complete objects within this first-category bundle.