Chimú Civilization
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of Chimú artefacts, dating from 900 to 1470, which derive from the north coast of Peru. This collection comprises ceramic vessels, silver ornaments and textiles. The Chimú were highly influenced by the sea and decorated their buildings and ceramics with depictions of sea life, such as seabirds and fish. The most common Chimú vessel type is the stirrup-spouted jar, with a small bird or monkey or a simple lug at the base of the neck. These were mould-made with two piece moulds designed to make the chamber as well as the stirrup spout. They were generally smudge fired and highly burnished, and some were oxidised to retain the red colour of the clay. These vessels were then polished after firing with flat stones to produce iridescence. The Chimú culture developed in the valleys of the coastal desert in the north of Peru. The Chimú state expanded to incorporate most of the Peruvian coast north of Lima, until about 1470 when they were conquered by the Inca.
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