Jar · Late Horizon
Inca aryballos
1400–1532 CE, Inca
The Inca aryballos is the tall, pointed-base storage and transport jar of the Inca empire, about 1,400 to 1,532 CE, with a flared rim, two low strap handles and a lug on the shoulder for a carrying rope. It held chicha and was carried on the back. Standardised across the empire, it is the diagnostic Inca vessel.
| Object | Jar |
|---|---|
| Dates | 1400–1532 CE |
| Period | Late Horizon |
| Cultures | Inca |
| Regions | South America — Andes |
Diagnostic traits
Tall storage jar with a pointed base, flared rim, two low strap handles and a lug on the shoulder; geometric painted bands.
Identification
The pointed base, tall neck, low handles and shoulder lug and the geometric painted bands in red, black and white on a fine buff paste distinguish it from Chimú and other regional jars. Sizes range from miniatures to a metre tall. Provincial imitations exist in local pastes.
Reproductions and fakes
Less faked than Moche but reproduced for the tourist trade in Cuzco; fakes have crisp paint and no wear at the base or lug. Restoration is common on excavated examples.
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Inca aryballos" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/inca-aryballos. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-inca-aryballos,
title = {Inca aryballos},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/inca-aryballos}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, commons. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.