A series of recent excavations has revealed the monumental sacred structures of the Chavín culture, whose people populated the coastal regions of Peru on thousand years before the Inca and which is regarded today as the mother culture of the Andes. The most magnificent of these structures is the temple at Chavín de Huántar, which is built of ornately carved stone. In 1985 the complex at Chavín de Huántar was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, but archaeologists have continued to discover artifacts such as sculptures, religious vessels, jewelry, and textiles. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the site, including maps, plans, and photographs. Essays examine the layout of the temple and the key concepts behind Chavín architecture. Also included is a full catalogue of the 170 artifacts found at Chavín. Published to coincide with the first ever exhibition on the culture of Chavín de Huántar at the Museum Rietberg in Zürich, this volume offers an up-to-date account of the archaeological findings at this important but lesser known site.
