Wari Culture pile headband from the highlands of the South Central Andes - a.d. 500 - 800. This pile technique is normally found on elite, four-cornered, Wari hats - headbands in this structure are rarely seen. The imagery of the band consists of alternating raptor-head and feline-head icons. Note the curved white beak feature of the raptor head and the checkered white teeth feature on the green feline head in these details. These iconic images represented important power animals venerated by the highland peoples. Under the shamanic, animist belief system of this Andean region, the powerful attributes of the creatures depicted on this headband were thought to imbue the wearer with supernatural abilities. The unfortunate wear and losses to some areas- partly from corrosive dyes, needs to be understood in the context of the rarity of this textile. The fiber of the pile is remarkably soft and lustrous and the colors are excellent. Size: 1.25 x 20 inches. Reasonable.