Chiribaya Dog
| Other names |
Perro Chiribaya, Chiribaya shepherd [dog] ([perro] pastor Chiribaya), Peruvian shepherd [dog] ([perro] pastor Peruano |
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| Origin | Peru | ||||||||||||||||
| Variety status | Extinct | ||||||||||||||||
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| Notes | Pre-Columbian | ||||||||||||||||
| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||
| Traits | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | small | ||
| Coat | long | ||
| Color | beige | ||
The Chiribaya Dog (Spanish: perro Chiribaya) or Peruvian shepherd dog (perro pastor Peruano) was a pre-Columbian breed of dog from the southwest of Peru, identified by the 42 mummies discovered by anthropologist Sonia Guillén Oneglio in the Ilo District, Moquegua Region, on the south coast of Peru. It has been established that it was a llama herding dog. The dogs were not only an important part of the social structure of the ancient Peruvians, but they received special treatment after death as well. The dog variety has been referred to in various Spanish-language documentaries under different terms, such as el perro pastor Chribaya ('the Chiribaya shepherd dog') and pastor Peruano ('Peruvian shepherd'), though the ancient Peruvians did not keep sheep. Its original name is unknown. (It has been referred to more ambiguously by the term perro Peruano or perro del Perú ('Peruvian dog', 'dog of Peru'), but this has also been applied to an extant but ancient hairless variety, referred to in more detail as perro sin pelo del Perú, 'hairless dog of Peru', or the Peruvian hairless, a favorite in South American dog shows.)
The dogs were found buried in cemeteries next to human mummies of the Chiribaya culture that flourished on the south coast of Peru, who seem to have buried their pets with all the honors of a faithful friend and co-worker. The finding is due to the research of Sonia Guillén, who specializes in the study of ancient mummies from prosperous pre-Columbian cultures from the Chachapoyas to the shores of Moquegua. The mummies date from the "late middle" period, c. 900 to 1350 CE.
In the port area of Ilo is Mallqui Center (from the word for 'mummy' in the Quechua language), dedicated to research regarding Chiribaya culture. This society developed as a chiefdom. Their territory has a feature that is the dream of every archaeologist: its soil is extremely dry, and it contains large amounts of nitrates, which ensured the preservation of the physical remains of those who inhabited this place.
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Wikipedia