Marking Peru’s bicentennial year of independence, this exhibition highlights the history, beliefs and cultural achievements of the different peoples who lived here from around 2500 BC to the arrival of Europeans in the 1500s, and their legacy in the centuries that followed.

The exhibition features objects from the British Museum’s collection, including ceramics, precious metals, textiles and ritual paraphernalia, as well as extraordinary pieces borrowed from Peru itself. Striking, large-scale photography and videos of iconic sites, including the Nasca geoglyphs and Machu Picchu, will also give visitors a vivid sense of place and an appreciation of the artistic and architectural prowess of ancient Andean cultures.

Curator Cecilia Pardo Grau examines the different landscapes and environments, as well as the cultures and histories of Peru – from the high peaks of the Andes down to the Pacific coast – to give a glimpse of what’s explored in our upcoming exhibition.

From Peru’s early indigenous peoples to the ill-fated Inca, discover how past cultures were shaped by the diverse landscapes of the central Andes, flourishing at some of the highest altitudes and in some of the driest deserts on earth. Find out how they developed unique approaches to time, agriculture, economy and power, some of which endure today.

Headdress depicting mythical feline heads

Ritual cape in the form of a feline

Peru : a journey in time

Exhibition : 11 Nov 2021 - 20 Feb 2022

Location : Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG