Chincha Plain-Weave Cloths

This scholarly report offers a close‑up look at the Chincha plain‑weave textiles uncovered in the early twentieth‑century Max Uhle excavations of Peru's coastal valleys. Compiled by a senior anthropology class under the guidance of the late Professor Lila M. O’Neale, the study draws on more than one hundred cloth fragments catalogued in the Museum of Anthropology’s collection. The authors describe the provenance of each piece, noting where precise burial locations are known and where records remain ambiguous.

Through detailed tables, maps, and nine illustrated plates, the researchers compare fabrics from six archaeological sites, ranging from modest scarves to large mantle‑size pieces. Their analysis suggests most of the cotton cloths served everyday, utilitarian purposes rather than ceremonial display, and even appear to have been repurposed to wrap pottery. The work provides a rare glimpse into late Chincha period material culture, blending technical textile analysis with broader archaeological context.