In addition, he investigated Chavín de Huantar as the focus for his work in the Andean highlands, which he believed was significant for the development of ancient cultures in the region.

[2] Tello was born a "mountain Indian" in an Andean village in Huarochirí Province, Peru; his family spoke Quechua, the most widely spoken indigenous language in the nation.

[citation needed] He was awarded a scholarship by Harvard University, where he learned English and earned his master's degree in anthropology in 1911.

[3] Tello traveled widely during his career, and regularly invited other scholars to Peru, developing an international network of colleagues.

[citation needed] He collaborated with his student Rebeca Carrión Cachot, who also succeeded him as director of the National Museum of Anthropology and Archeology.

Since the late 20th century, Peruvian archeologist Ruth Shady and others have established that Caral-Supe, also known as Norte Chico, is the first civilization in the Americas, arising nearly 5,000 years ago.

[citation needed] In 1912 in England for a Congress of Americanists, Tello met Olive Mabel Chessman, an English woman who was a student at London University.

Until late-20th century discoveries established the dates of the 5000-year-old Norte Chico site, the Chavín culture was believed to be the oldest complex civilization in Peru.

Tello was the first in Peru to practice a scientific method of archeological excavation, to preserve stratigraphy and elements to establish dating and context.

In 1936 he, together with prominent scholars Alfred Kroeber, Samuel Lothrop, Wendell Bennett and others established the Institute for Andean Research (IAR), to organize and recognize contributions in the field.