Peru a journey in time

Step into the vibrant world of Peru and discover how people have thrived for millennia in one of the most complex and challenging environments on the planet.

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.

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.

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.