Centuries before the Incas, a number of advanced cultures flourished in the Andes. This beautifully illustrated study examines the rise and fall of these different peoples, and their magnificent legacy of design and craftsmanship. Surviving artifacts show incredible skill and sophistication, from exquisitely detailed textiles, ceramics, and metalwork to spectacular architectural sites. Tracing the connections between symbolism and belief, art, and myth, Treasures of the Andes sets the riches of South America in their historical and regional context and restores an important missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle of the world's great civilizations.

Treasures of the Andes is a beautiful showcase of the superb legacy of the ancient peoples of South America. It features the wonderfully imaginative tradition of craftmanship in precious metals, as well as beautiful textiles, embroidery, ceramics and architecture. Accompanying this is a detailed commentary explaining the symbols depicted, and the beliefs that lay behind them. Highlights include Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines. A vivid and richly illustrated portrait of the rise and fall of the mountain and coastal peoples of this region, Treasures of the Andes sets the riches of South America in their historical and regional context and restores an important missing piece in the jigsaw of the world's great civilizations.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

A location that has been forgotten by time can be found in the most isolated regions of the Andes Mountains, where the mountains meet the sky and history blends with the natural world. The mysteries of the past and the enduring love of the present coexist in a novel that is set in these locations. Welcome to "The Treasure of the Andes," a story of romance, adventure, and friendship set in a land where people who are passionate about truth, culture, and passion find greater treasure in their hearts than in gold chests. In the following pages, you will witness an unforgettable journey, where adventurers explore the depths of the Andes, facing challenges, discovering forgotten treasures and, most importantly, discovering the meaning of the true treasure hidden in life. The heroes of this tale, set against the stunning background of a national park, discover that sometimes the greatest treasure is the one that is found in the heart in addition to discovering much more than they were expecting. Come explore "The Treasure of the Andes" with us as we discuss the depths of this remarkable voyage.

Eight billion dollars? worth of Inca gold and silver are rumored to be hidden in an unmapped region of the Andes. This is the captivating story of that fabled treasure and the centuries-old spell it has cast on many, including a young American student, Peter Lourie. While completing anthropological fieldwork in Ecuador, Lourie heard the legend of Atahualpa?s ransom. The Incas gathered seven-hundred tons of gold (Sweat of the Sun) and silver (Tears of the Moon) to purchase the freedom of their king, Atahualpa, from Pizarro and his conquistadors. After the Inca ruler?s murder, the treasure vanished into the forsaken Llanganati range of the Andes. Lourie abandoned his graduate school ambitions to search for Atahualpa?s ransom. His quest for clues and his journey into the heart of the Andes is an absorbing and exciting detective story. Lourie?s account is also unforgettable for its revelations about the lives and characters of seasoned treasure hunters, the obsessed few lured by the siren song of legendary gold.

Chronicle of an expedition into the Llanganati Mountains of Ecuador in search of 750 tons of worked gold, which the Incas hid from the Spanish conquistadors after Pizarro executed the Sun King, Atahualpa.

This is the story of how gold can intoxicate even the most mild mannered of historians, about how characters - both real and fictional - become seized with the desire to claim lost treasure from even the most inhospitable areas of the world.