Peru features 84 of the 103 biodiversity zones found on earth, so it has a wide variety of habitats where orchids grow. More than 3,000 of the 30,000 known orchid species grow in Peru, surpassing the number of native species found in both Colombia and Ecuador, countries known for their orchids. Interestingly, orchids have been highly prized by Peruvian cultures for thousands of years, by both pre-Inca and Incan peoples.
Ancient Cultural History
Brief historical overview
More than 15,000 years ago, people from Asia migrated to a coastal and mountainous land, now known as Peru. By 6,000 BCE, civilizations had formed. Significant evidence of irrigated farmlands and domesticated animals dates back almost 5,000 years. Some irrigation canals found in northern Peru are between 5400 and 6700 years old.
The first known city in the Americans with a significant population, large public buildings, and a complex administrative structure, Caral, about 200 km north of Lima, dates back to 2,500 BCE. It is one of only six world centers of the rise of civilization. By 300 BCE the Paracas culture was distinguishing itself in textiles by using vicuna fibers instead of cotton to produce fine weavings.
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PERUVIAN Arts & TEXTILES
Join Elvi for the ultimate Peruvian archaeological,
cultural arts and textiles group tour – 14 days,
Oct. 8-21, 2016.
Experience Peru as few others do. For details.
Textiles played an important role in Andean society since at least 3000 BCE. Textile arts were extremely labor intensive, required extraordinary skill, and consumed a vast amount of materials. A single tunic might require between 6 to 9 miles of different colored fibers.
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PERUVIAN CUISINE
Peruvian cuisine is fine cuisine. It has been influenced by Inca, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, German, and Japanese cuisines, so it’s quiet eclectic. One thing remains true, it comes from a respect for local ingredients so in many places potatoes, maize and chili peppers are still staples. Even with these as staples, Peruvian cuisine it tends to be light and healthful.
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ABOUT PERUVIAN CULTURE
Peruvian Arts and Culture
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