The Chancay Conopos
The native South American camelids, such as alpacas and llamas, were domesticated by the Indians at least as early as the Peruvian Chavin people who lived in the time period of 900 to 200 BC. They and their chronological followers used these domesticates as pack animals, for milk, for meat and for their wool. Around AD 1100, a group of natives developed a culture known as the Cuismanau Empire but who are called today, the Chancay Culture (pronounced CHANG-kigh). The Chancay people were apparently not a typical warlike and political society group but instead seemed to be mostly commercial in their interests. They thrived in the north central coastal region of Peru, mostly in the Chillon and Chancay Valleys, until the early fifteenth century when part of their territory was conquered by the Chimu warriors. Later, around AD 1450, the Incas occupied the remainder of the Chancay lands and this unique culture ceased to exist.
The Chancay people were known for their remarkable ceramics and for their superb woven woolen textiles. The ceramic vessels took many forms including large rounded ollas, human full body portraiture and animal effigies. Most of these clay creations were covered with white slip and over-painted with black in many geometric designs. The textiles included clothing, blankets and ceremonial objects and both the ceramics and the woven items were apparently traded throughout the Pacific coast side of the continent.
At some point in time during the South American prehistoric period, the people developed a unique ceramic llama/alpaca effigy that is called a conopa. These were, most likely, devotional objects or amulets and many cultures up to the Spanish invasion made and used these totems. And they are still being made and used in parts of Peru today. The Chancay apparently kept vast herds of llamas and alpacas since their production of textiles based on the animal’s fleece was tremendous. Thousands of whole and/or fragmentary woolen creations have survived the five hundred plus years since they were originally woven. According to scientific investigations and archaeological suppositions, the Chancay buried these llama effigy conopa vessels in their animal pastures as fertility symbols to increase the herd size and also in their homes for spiritual protection. Conopas, which were also made of stone, were hollow and had a hole in the animal’s back. Based on early European accounts, the Incas filled their conopas with an alcohol based wine, llama fat and coca leaves in a ceremony of religious offering called haywarisqa. This was to insure safety of the family and good health for their animals. There are reasons to believe that this ceremony began well before the Incan Empire and today it generally acknowledged that it began with the Chancay Culture, if not before. These were probably a very industrious and capitalistic people who made and sold/traded much pottery and textile goods and attempted to show devotion to their gods in an odd alcohol based ceremony using the rare Chancay Conopas. *** See Note Below
REFERENCES:
Hardoy, Jorge E.
PRE-COLUMBIAN CITIES
1964
Langhena, Maria & Walter Alva
THE INCAS AND OTHER ANCIENT ANDEAN CIVILIZATIONS
1999
Moseley, Michael E.
THE INCAS & THEIR ANCESTORS
2001
Steward, Julian H. - Editor
“Handbook of South American Indians”,
THE ANDEAN CIVILIZATIONS
1946
*** Please note that all artifacts from Mexico, Central America and South America, shown on this web site, were legally brought into the USA during the 1950’s and before. All countries in these areas prohibit the export of ancient artifacts today. There currently is a flourishing business in reproduction “ancient artifacts”, particularly on the internet. Many countries, especially Peru and some other South American states, apparently make no attempt to stop the export of newly made items even though many are made in the manner of ancient objects and are obviously made to deceive. Buyer Beware!