This is the first time the British Museum's major collection of Peruvian and other early Andean textiles is being published as a group. Included are rare and exquisite pieces, many of great iconographic and technical importance, ranging in date from the Paracas to the Inka and Colonial periods, 200 BC to the late 18th century AD. Examples of contemporary Andean textiles will complement the early pieces and illustrate the continuation of weaving traditions in the Andes. The introduction discusses briefly how ancient Andean textiles have survived in desert graves for up to 2,000 years, setting them in their chronological, cultural and environmental context. The authors then explain their importance in reflecting and often affecting the political and religious beliefs of these cultures. They also look at the evidence of who made them, how and why. For these ancient cultures, textiles were often the most valuable commodity they possessed - far beyond gold and silver - and they were a major medium for conveying critical cultural meaning. For us, they are works of unsurpassed art and craftsmanship, and one of the greatest resources for studying these great civilizations.