Paracas Culture and Ceramics

The Paracas culture, discovered by Julio César Tello in 1925, thrived on Peru's southern coast from 600 BC to 200 AD. Known for its advanced textiles, medicine, and ceramics, Paracas society was class-based and theocratic, heavily influenced by the Chavín culture. It had two main phases: Paracas-Cavernas, with vertical burial sites, and Paracas-Necropolis, later attributed to the Topará culture. Paracas is noted for cranial trepanations and skull deformations. Its decline led to the rise of the Nazca culture, inheriting many Paracas traditions.

Who discovered the Paracas culture?

• Hiram Bingham

• Julio César Tello

• Thor Heyerdahl

• Michael Coe

What was the primary role of priests in the Paracas culture?

• Farmers

• Military leaders

• Traders

• Servants of the God Kon

What characterized the burial practices of the Paracas-Cavernas phase?

• Cremation

• Burial in wooden coffins

• Vertical graves with an inverted cup shape

• Horizontal graves

Which culture is now believed to be associated with the Paracas-Necropolis phase?

• Nazca culture

• Chavín culture

• Topará culture

• Moche culture

What was a significant feature of Paracas textiles?

• Metallic threads

• Use of silk

• Monochrome designs

• Mythological and geometric representations

What surgical practice was common in the Paracas culture?

• Heart surgery

• Cranial trepanation

• Limb amputation

• Dental surgery

What materials were used in Paracas ceramics?

• Stone

• Glass

• Clay with polychrome designs

• Metal

What was the shape of Paracas ceramics in their final stage?

• Rectangular

• Spherical with a bridge handle

• Triangular

• Flat

How did the Paracas culture influence the Nazca culture?

• Through trade agreements

• By passing down cultural traditions

• By sharing religious texts

• Through military conquest

What was the fate of the Paracas culture after its decline?

• It continued to thrive independently

• It became the initial phase of the Nazca culture

• It merged with the Moche culture

• It was completely forgotten