Essentials For Learning Spanish In Lima, Peru: Pre-incan Cultures

While you may have planned your trip strictly to study Spanish in Peru, much can be learned during your trip about the ancient history of the region, for example, the Pre-Incan cultures. While we do have quite a bit of information about the Inca Empire as it came in direct contact with that of the Spanish conquistadors, the period before it is a bit less clear to track. Peru is special in that it is one of the major areas in the world where we can track the indigenous people. One of the reasons for this is that the climate was amenable for development due to the various rivers and ample opportunity for irrigation.

We do know that there were hunters and gatherers in Peru about 14,000 years ago. Much of what has been learned was understood through cultural formations that have been discovered. For example, the Guitarrero Cave in Ancash Peru has shown evidence of humans being there about 8000 BCE. Different artifacts have been found in this cave including wood, bone and a grinding slab that dated back somewhere between 10,500 years ago and 9000 years ago.

There are also lithographs from various caves also in Peru. For example, there is the Ayacucho complex that has an archeological site called Pikimachay. Researchers have found different tools in this cave that date back 15,000-11,000 BCE. They also found ancient plants in this region. When you attend Spanish immersion school in Lima, you may not have a chance to travel to some of these archaeological sites around the country, but at least some of this activity is definitely highly recommended.

Many ancient cultures can be traced back through their craftwork. For example, once people became more sedentary in nature, they began to make baskets, pottery and metalwork. In about 7000 BCE, Pre-Incan cultures also spun and knitted wool. Jiskairumoko, Kotosh, and Huaca Prieta are pre-Columbian sites in Peru that have helped researchers to understand history in this region. A great deal of fascinating architecture has been found in Jiskairumoko. These structures help archaeologists to understand the way people used space and lived together in communities.

Going back even earlier in Pre-Incan cultures, the Norte Chico civilization lived in the region that is now coastal Peru. They had a rather extensive society with 30 population centers. The population of this group grew and expanded from 30th century BC to 18th century BC. It is interesting to note that this is considered to be a "preceramic culture," as they didn't have ceramics or art yet as part of their culture. However, the Norte Chico civilization did focus on detailed architecture that included plazas and mounds. They also apparently had a political system that was rather complex.

If you travel to attend Spanish immersion school in Lima and have an interest in Pre-Incan cultures, definitely don't miss the Museum of Art of Lima. This museum has extensive exhibits including artwork from the people of ancient Peru. Another stop in the region that is highly recommended when you study Spanish in Peru is the National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology and History, which contains over 100,000 items from various pre-Incan cultures.