More Than Fiber: The Sacred Role of Alpacas in Andean Life

Since pre-Columbian times, alpacas have been central to life in Peru. Across different Andean civilizations, their presence and role extended far beyond the material use.  For the Incas, alpaca fiber was reserved for royalty and religious life. Earlier cultures such as the Moche depicted alpacas in pottery and artwork, while the Wari relied on their fiber and meat for sustenance. More than a single resource, alpacas have long sustained Andean communities as sources of food, pack animals, ritual offerings, and providers of fiber for clothing and warmth. As early as 2500 BCE , communities in what is now Peru were already...