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The Pre-Inca Epoch.
It is ii;npossible to definitely fix the beginn–
ing of this cycle. It may be possible that the
origen of this epoch is as remote as the origin
of human life itself. Many centuries must have
elapsed during the development of the Quechua
culture, which culminated in a most admirable
communistic orgianization, and an architecture
of surpassing attainments.. (
1)
In the Andean caves are found vestiges
o~
the
lif
e of the- Quechuas, which may be consider–
ed as initial steps in the development _of their
civilization, which rogressed from the mountain
f
astnesses
t
·wards the pl
~ns
sloping from the
great Andes.
The best known work of thi epoch, if we
may
j
udge by exi1Sting monum,ents is that prior
to the dom1nation of Ti
1
ahuanacu, he essential
characteristics of whic is its megalithic art, or
the utilization of mammoh stones in construction,
somewat similar to the P.elagic era in Greece.
The Tiahuanacu re.gime exercised a cultural
influence throughout the _tribes inhabiting the
entire Sierra of Peru. It dates back to
a
very
(1) The Quechua woirds in this booklet will be
written in conformity with current usage. Phonetic signs
are employed by the Quechologists of today, hut there
is no uniformity in this practice. ,
T-
9 -