Day 4: The Llama

Today, we visited a typical Quechua farm on our way to Ollatantambo. At this farm, they used the wool of alpacas, llamas and vicuñas to make exquisite textiles such as table runners, hats, gloves, mittens, slippers, sweaters and pashminas. They use a variety of pigments and native techniques to harvest the wool, clean it and prepare it for weaving. Our group was captivated by the intricate process of weaving and the indigenous weavers, but also by the animals. We spent more time running around petting, feeding, and being chased by the animals than we spent in the Indian market we visited a few towns later. Although playing with the animals might have been the highlight of our trip, it made us realize something very important. The llama family is immeasurably important to this part of the world.

Before coming to Peru, most of us had a very faint understanding that llamas populated this region, and roamed mildly as a curious creature of no apparent use. Upon arriving, it is clear that the llama plays a very important role in the culture here. This is apparent because llamas appear everywhere; on sweaters, on hillsides, on dinner plates, and pretty much anywhere else you can think of. To give a little background, the llama family includes several different types each of llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, camels and guanacos. These animals are all related (some more distantly than others), however alpacas and llamas are more closely related, and are more prominent in Peru. Vicuñas are fairly common but they aren’t as multipurpose as llamas and alpacas. Finally, guanacos are endangered and less than 400 exist.

Traditionally, llamas were used as beasts of burden and as a source of wool. They were almost never raised for consumption. Alpacas were used similarly to llamas but also served as a food source. It is clear that llamas were very important in Inca culture because they appear both in ceremonies and in astrology.

As we mentioned yesterday, astronomy was a huge part of Incan culture. In the Milky Way galaxy, the Incas identified a number of “dark constellations” or constellations formed from the dark spaces in between the stars. One of these constellations is a mother llama giving birth.

In many sacred sites we have visited there have been shrines where sacrifices were made. For a particularly important ceremony or as an offering to placate the gods, llamas were sacrificed. The rarity of llama sacrifice shows their importance. In particular, one temple had a stone compass which casts the shadow of a llama head on the summer equinox.

Overall, llamas and alpacas have been a key part of our journey to Peru. From making new friends, to finding a comfy sweater, and from a tasty dinner to helping us to understand Incan culture, the llama family has made our trip interesting and given us lots of interesting photo opportunities!