Since the dawn of history in Peru, textiles have served as the primary form of cultural expression. In remote Andean villages, traditions of handspinning and warp-faced weaving survived the 1532 Spanish Conquest and persisted into the 20th Century. With the advent of machine-spun yarns, aniline dyes and factory-made fabrics, however, handweaving began to wane. Fortunately, a group of weavers near Cuzco took steps to ensure that the skills of the elders were passed on, and slowly the tradition has come back to life. This textile is from the village of Chinchero.