Pre-Inca Trade Routes May Have Involved Transporting Live Parrots Across the Andes
Archaeological research indicates that pre-Inca societies in coastal Peru may have transported live parrots over the Andes Mountains via established trade networks. This conclusion stems from the discovery of parrot feathers in a burial site, with analysis suggesting the birds were captured in the wild and kept alive during long journeys before the Inca Empire's rise. The study highlights sophisticated pre-Columbian exchange systems.
Key facts
- Parrot feathers were found in a pre-Inca burial in coastal Peru
- A new study suggests the birds were captured in the wild
- The parrots were likely kept alive during lengthy journeys
- Transport occurred over the Andes Mountains along trade routes
- This activity predates the rise of the Inca Empire
Entities
Locations
- Peru
- Andes Mountains