Domestication of Llamas and Alpacas

Timeline

1. c. -3500–-1000Central Highlands of Peru · PeruAndean ancestors selectively bred alpacas from wild vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) and llamas from guanacos (Lama guanicoe), establishing the earliest camelid herding systems on plateaus at elevations of 3,000–4,500 meters.
2. c. -1000–-500Lake Titicaca Plateau · Puno RegionLamas carried loads between highland regions and supplied meat, while alpacas provided high-quality wool fiber; together with highland crops such as potatoes and quinoa, they formed a complementary economy supporting the Chavín culture and the development of subsequent complex Andean societies.
3. c. -500–500Andean Cordillera · AndesAndean societies developed systematic herd management, wool-spinning techniques, and long-distance trade routes using llamas as carriers, providing a mature pastoral foundation for the later economic integration of Tiwanaku, Wari, and the Inca Empire.