Why are alpacas so important in Andean cultures?
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Why are alpacas so important in Andean cultures?
Alpacas are very important in Andean cultures and especially for the ancient Incas for several reasons that we will list below. The great advantage for these civilisations is that alpacas are animals that can live up to 4,500 metres above sea level.
Source of fibre and fine wool
From alpacas, a highly sought-after fibre and subsequently a very pure wool is obtained. In fact, it was already used by Andean tribes to produce clothes, blankets and ceremonial fabrics. As you can imagine, temperatures in the Andes can be very cold, and this type of wool was and is ideal for protection against low temperatures.
These textiles were also a symbol of prestige among the people of these ancient civilisations, and especially alpacas and llamas with black wool were considered a symbol of good fortune and prosperity.
Alpaca hair and skin
Source of food (but only as a third choice!)
Although alpacas were mainly used for their wool, sometimes in cases of famine or difficulty in finding food, they were slaughtered and their lean, protein-packed meat was used to feed the mouths of holidaymakers.
The first choice of food for the Incas was vegetables and all that Pachamama could offer, the second choice was llamas, which were also used as cargo animals. Finally, the third choice was the aplacas, which were used as a food source only in emergencies.
Lomo saltado de Alpaca - a typical Andean dish
Source of wealth
Alpacas were very valuable precisely because they could be used in a variety of situations and were therefore also used as a “mobile barter” commodity, just like other types of livestock in European cultures.
Furthermore, their products such as alpaca wool were and still are sold to create wealth within these Andean tribes. In fact, it is not uncommon to find alpaca fibre or alpaca wool products in all the countries touched by the Cordillera.
Market with alpaca products
Spiritual value
Alpacas were considered sacred animals by the Inca Empire as they were linked to Pachamama. Alpaca fibre was used to create textiles for religious rituals and in some cases alpacas were even sacrificed.
Machu Picchu
This is why alpacas were considered much more than farm animals. These animals were an economic resource, a spiritual blessing and a status symbol for all the ancient peoples of the Andean region.