Woven Histories: Discovering Pre-Columbian Textiles

Discover the artistry and ingenuity of ancient Peru through a selection of Pre-Columbian textiles from the museum’s collections. This session offers a rare chance to see fragile fabrics up close and to learn how they were made, used, the symbolic meanings of their depictions, and how they have been preserved over centuries. No prior knowledge is needed, just curiosity about how threads, colours, and patterns can reveal the lives and beliefs of people long ago.

About the facilitator

Dr Jimena Lobo Guerrero Arenas is a Senior Curator at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology with responsibility for World Archaeology.

With a background in archaeology, anthropology and history, she specializes in the historical archaeology of the Americas and on the history and archaeology of colonialism with particular attention to Colombia. She is especially interested in Material Culture Studies and postcolonial theory to explore, analyze and interpret the interaction amongst indigenous people, Africans, and Europeans. More recently her research has focused on the study of metallurgy in the Americas during the colonial period and on Cultural Heritage and Museums. She has also worked in the pre-Columbian archaeology of Ecuador.

Important Information

• Workshops are for adults of 16 years +

• No audio or video recording is permitted of the workshops, without the clear permission of the Workshop leader and other participants

• Arrival and transport information to be shared post-booking

• Access details of the room will be shared, we will ask for information about access requirements.

• Refreshments will be provided midway through the session (tea, coffee, water, biscuits).

• Details about where bags and coats will be left, outside of the workroom.

Terms and Conditions

1. Bookings

1.1 Bookings are valid only for the specific event type, the number of people and the date and time slot (where applicable) on the ticket.

1.2 Details of each event are provided prior to booking and the responsiblity of the person making the booking to check they undetstand any restrictions (e.g. age) and that all details they provide are accurate at the time of booking.

1.3 Bookings are refundable up to 14 days prior to the event, via Eventbrite. No refund is available for a cancellation under two weeks before an event, but the booker may transfer their ticket to another person who will attend and let MAA know the name of the person attending by emailing [email protected].

1.4 Booking is confirmed by the Eventbrite confirmation email, not a physical ticket. Please have your ticket ready to show staff on arrival at MAA.

1.5 Please send an email to [email protected] with any access requirements as early as possible, and a minimum of 1 week prior to the event.

2. Cancellation

2.1 If a event is cancelled for any reason, you will be offered a full refund of the price of the ticket(s) relating to that event.

2.2 Our liability to you in these circumstances is limited to refunding the price you paid for the cancelled ticket(s). We are not responsible to you to any greater extent and in particular is not liable to you for any other loss that you may incur as a consequence of the cancellation or closure (including, without limitation, financial loss such as travel or other expenses or any business-related costs such as loss of profit).

3. During the event

3.1 Whilst on-site please follow follow safety instructions from the staff at all times.

3.2 Recording of workshops is not permitted.

3.3 Food and drink, apart from water, may not be consumed within the galleries of MAA.

3.4 We reserve the right to refuse entry.

4. Accessibility
Please view details about accessibility on our website: https://maa.cam.ac.uk/visit/accessibility

Image: Textile band, Paracas, Peru, Early Horizon Paracas/ Early Intermediate Period.

Image: Slit weave tapestry, Peru, Late Intermediate Period.

Image: Pendant fringe, Paracas, Peru, Early Horizon Paracas/ Early Intermediate Period.

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Host or Publisher Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology