Generalviewof Pacatnamú, pyramid mounds known as huacas. Like many of the large prehistoric structures of coastal Peru, these mounds are constructed of sun-dried adobe brick and in some cases rise to over thirteen meters in height. My interest in Pacatnamú developed out of an architectural survey undertaken in 1974. This preliminary survey was designed to categorize the various architectural complexes at the site and lay the groundwork for a long-term program of research and excavation. Prior to this Pacatnamú had been mentioned only sporadically in the archaeological literature, and a complete map of the site had never been published. During 1937-39, 1952-53 and 1962-63, three German expeditions to Peru led by the late Heinrich Ubbelohde-Doering of the Museum für Völkerkunde in Munich excavated several areas of the site. Unfortunately, Ubbelohde-Doering died before a final report could be published. His preliminary reports combined with my own surface survey of Pacatnamú whetted my appetite to find out more about the previous work at this important site. In order to pursue this desire, in 1975 I traveled to West Germany where most of the material Ubbelohde-Doering had collected had been taken for final study and analysis. I examined the artifacts as well as the notes, drawings and photographs in UbbelohdeDoering' s home outside of Marburg and at the Museum für Völkerkunde in Munich. U bbelohde-Doering's work at Pacatnamú yielded many different kinds of artifacts, but the most outstanding aspect of his collection is the large number of spectacular textiles. They represent what is very likely the finest sample of textiles with unequivocal provenience yet reported for the North Coast of Peru. In the 31