"The central Andean regions of the countries of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile are among the richest in the world with regard to variety of musical and folkloric traditions. Long before the Spanish conquest, and even before the Inca civilization, the diverse native cultures of the region had rich musical traditions. Ancient tombs have yielded flutes, trumpets, drums and other musical artifacts; many ceramic jars found in ancient tombs depict musical instruments being used in various contexts (shamanism, propitiation to the gods, hunting, dancing) that are difficult to interpret. Music was obviously of importance in the human and supernatural worlds of the ancient Andean people."

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