Christopher B. Donnan and Donna McClelland. Moche Fineline Painting: Its Evolution and Its Artists. University of California Los Angeles, Fowler Museum of Cultural Hi-Story. 1999.
After many years Donnan researched in over 200 museums and collections the Moche iconography. He photographed each vase in the entire 360 degrees, painted scenes. Mc Clelland redrew the scenes in black and white fine line. They classified each scene under a motif or a topic and then compiled the book.
Narrative Themes:
The Burial Theme
The Presentation Theme
The Revolt of the Objects
The Tule Boat Theme
The Bean and Stick Ceremony
Ceremonial Badminton/Water Lily Ritual
Runner Theme
Coca- Taking
SILVERMAN, GAIL P. QUILLCA. LA ESCRITURA DE LOS INCAS. JUAN GUTEMBERG. Materia Lingüística Peruana. Lima. 2023.
I met Professor Silverman at a TV interview in Lima, Peru. We talked about her research with the Quero community. The last Incas of Peru. S\till living in the high altitudes of Cuzco and the jungle.
Her new book sheds light over the concept thaat the Incas had developed a form of writing at their early stages. She studied for years ponchos textiles with small square "Tocapus" each symbolizing a message.
The information in the book will be important to compare and contrast with my research since her topic proposes that the iconography of the incas- the tocapus is a form of writing.
Review in Libros Peruanos:
https://www.librosperuanos.com/libros/detalle/21699/Quillca.-La-escritura-de-los-incas
Reseña
Gail Silverman describe como los Incas usaron formas geométricas para escribir el Quechua Prehispánico, demostrando al mundo que los Incas conocieron la escritura.
Basándose en la analogía etnográfica cuando existe evidencias de una continuidad en las prácticas culturales andinas, cuatro cronistas y vestigios arquitectónicos Incas, Silverman revela la estrecha relación entre la forma exacta de un tocapu y su relación con la gramática quechua prehispánica.
El Peruano Newspaper review:
https://www.elperuano.pe/noticia/214518-antropologa-gail-silverman-presenta-libro-sobre-decodificacion-de-los-tocapus-incas
06/04/2023 Over half a century, an American researcher has decoded 17 tocapus, and confirms that it is the "writing" of the Quechua language. Presentation will be on Thursday 8, at the Amano textile museum, in Miraflores.
The mystery of the Inca tocapus, those geometric figures that appear enclosed in small squares on the surfaces of the tunics, characteristic of the Tahuantinsuyo textiles, have been decoded by the American anthropologist Gail Silverman.
For the first time, the researcher will present her findings in the book Quillca. The writing of the Incas , edited by Juan Gutenberg Editores.
The presentation will be on Thursday 8, at 7:00 pm, in the auditorium of the Amano Pre-Columbian Textile Museum (160 El Retiro Street, Miraflores), where Silverman will give details of his findings.
Quechua “writing”
Silverman has come to decode 17 tocapus, and develops the hypothesis that these geometric figures of the tocapus are the "writing" of the Quechua language.
She has carried out 50 years of research in Peru, of which she spent 28 residing in Cusco and 14 in the Quechua towns that keep the Tahuantinsuyo traditions alive.
During this period, the anthropologist established her residence in the Q'ero community (Paucartambo province, Cusco), from which she moved and lived with the inhabitants of the Quechua towns of Chinchero, Paucartambo, Markapata, Cotabambas, Pisac, Calca, Pitumarka, Huancarani, Kauri and heights of Lares and Ampares.
In all these remote Quechua towns, he collected the identification and meaning of the Inca or Tocapus motifs.
The researcher, as she maintains in her book, came to the decoding of a group of tocapus from the Quechua language, which she had to learn after studying it for five years at the University of Paris VIII (France) with the Quechuologist professor Peruvian, Abdon Yaranga Valderrama; and also from the Mandarin Chinese language, which she learned at said academic center.
Devigne, Francis. Prodigioso Peru Profundo. Chamánico, Cósmico, Simbólico. 2023.
The author chooses ceramics, motifs and describes the object's meaning, simbolism and use.
Paz Esquerre, Eduardo. Sistemas de Escritura Mochica e Inca. La Escritura en el Mundo Fondo Editorial de la Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego. Inversiones Gráfica G % M S.A.C.. Trujillo. Peru, 2015
Sotil Galindo, Raúl. UAP, Universidad Alas Peruanas, Lima. 2008.
Sotil interprets symbols and meanings of different scenes and gods. He analyses objects, nose pieces, clothing, ceramics, and embroidery. Many delicate drawings on ceramics or embroideries are anthropomorphic. An analysis of objects, ceramics and animals is needed to understand the power of the image.
Unraveling fine colored drawings painted in ceramic vases and embroidery, Sotil divides his analysis and research into the following objects or topics to decipher the iconography:
Offering pottery
The God of the Air
Codes
Mustachees
Diadems
Walking Stiffs
Offering Heads- Trophy heads
Orcas
Weapons