Dye Analysis of Pre-Columbian Peruvian Textiles with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Diode-Array Detection

Abstract

A series of textiles belonging to various pre-Columbian civilizations as well as a series of present-day Peruvian natural dyes were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography and diode-array detection. The analytical results were classified according to the composition of known dyes or to specific compositional patterns of unknown dyes. Plant reds (from Relbunium species) and animal reds (cochineal from the scale insect Dactylopius coccus) were each predominantly present before and after the Huari and Tiahuanaco cultural periods (700-1100 A.D.), respectively. During these periods both reds were found together. One red and one yellow vegetal dye were both found to occur in the Paracas necropolis only. The analysis of the complex yellow dyes may be useful for the determination of early Peruvian dyes.