Andean Textile Talks

Learning by Doing: Rediscovering an Ancient Twining Practice

Tuesday, February 17, at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Jeffrey Splitstoser

On the north coast of Peru lies the archeological site of Huaca Prieta, which served as a temple for thousands of years. The people from this region laid textiles on the temple’s ramp as sacred offerings—one of which is a fragment of cotton twining decorated with the world’s earliest known use of indigo (roughly 6,200 years old).

Join archeologist and textile scholar Jeffrey Splitstoser as he discusses the site of Huaca Prieta, the discovery of the Condor Textile, and what we have learned from it through its study and replication. His research has a strong focus on learning through making, reproducing the khipus and textile structures he encounters in the field. This work includes growing fiber and dye plants, processing, spinning and dyeing fibers, and weaving.

This one-hour free Zoom presentation will be followed by a Q&A.

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The Amano Museum of Pre-Columbian Textiles is one of Peru’s oldest institutions dedicated to protecting the country’s textile heritage. Since its foundation 52 years ago, the museum has shared one of the most complete collections of pre-Columbian textiles, which spans cultures including Chavin, Paracas, Moche, Nazca, Wari, Lambayeque, Chimu and Inca.