The Chavin culture was an ancient civilization that thrived in the Andean highlands of modern-day Peru from around 900 BCE to 200 BCE. They were known for their impressive art and architecture, particularly their stone carvings and elaborate underground temples. The Chavin people also had a complex religion, with worship centered around a feline deity and the use of hallucinogenic drugs in their rituals. They were skilled farmers and traders, and their influence spread throughout the region through a network of trade routes. The Chavin culture is considered to be one of the earliest and most influential civilizations in South America.