Paracas [key], Native American culture of ancient Peru. Named after the Paracas peninsula on the south coast, where their remains were first found, the Paracas produced resin-painted pottery and textiles, but little is known of their way of life. The so-called Palpa Lines, which are similar to the nearby Nazca Lines but are earlier and are carved into hillsides, may be the work of the Paracas. They were probably influenced by the earlier culture centered around Chavín de Huántar.
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