The New Museum of Pachacamac

Pachacamac was the main sanctuary of the central coast for over a thousand years, on the south of Lima. Their temples were visited by crowds of pilgrims on the occasion of the great Andean rituals and going people of the Andes in search of solutions to their problems or answers to their questions.

Pachacamac is regarded as an oracle and its worship was the center of all coastal religion. The word Pachacamac means "soul of the earth, which animates the world." The ancient Peruvians believed that one movement of his head would cause earthquakes. He could not look into his eyes, and even his priests entered the enclosure back.

The new Pachacamac site museum under construction, part of the National System of Museums of the National Institute of Culture. It aims to integrate the archaeological site with the community. It provides information to understand the Archaeological Sanctuary of Pachacamac and place in the history of Peruvian archeology. Among the main buildings we can find: the Sun Temple, pyramids with ramps, Taurichumpi Palace, Temple Pintado, Uhle Cemetery, North and South Streets, Square of the Pilgrims and the Acllahuasi.

You can visit the museum in the old Panamericana Sur Km. 31.5 Lurin district in Lima. A building that will offer visitors modern spaces for the exhibition of major collections that currently houses and efficient research work and preservation of cultural material environments.

Visit Lima: The Colonial Capital Tour 3D/2N

New Nazca geoglyphs

A few months ago a group of Japanese archaeologists from the University of Yamagata were those who discovered new and enigmatic geometric shapes on the floor, 1 ½ kilometers north from the city of Nazca. According to the analysts these geometric shapes date from the III – V century A.D. and belong to Paracas ancient civilization.

These figures are hardly recognizable and sum a total of 24 new geoglyphs, within these the figure of a Llama (a mammal that is used to load and transport) is recognized and other animals that measure up to 20 meters long formed of volcanic stones.

So far they have found 41 geometric figures since 2004, thanks to the agreement signed between the Japanese university and the Peruvian State. These geometric shapes have been recognized by the  Unesco as Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Initially they could not be discovered because of the surface of the desert and the wind, which only allowed to be recognized from the air or from a surrounding hill.

Masato Sakai, head of the research warned that the discovery could be in danger due to the expansion of urban areas, noting that the figures should be preserved and showed to the world.

For more information about Nazca visit: Paracas 

The Amazing Sillustani

In Sillustani 35 kms. from Puno, a mysterious and impressive burial grounds of the Lords of the Colla called chullpas is situated, with square and cone shapes made of stones that fit symmetrically exact. This sanctuary is surrounded by the beautiful Umayo Lagoon only 20 kms. from Lake Titicaca.

The Chullpas can reach up to 12 meters high, with vaulted crypts where mummies were kept inside, almost 90 of them. According to researches the bodies were mummified in a fetal position and placed inside the chullpas. Close to the bodies were placed their belongings, jewelry, pottery and food; due to their beliefs were said that after death the bodies will resurrect elsewhere, where then they will eat and drink.

Higher chullpas settled on platforms and had graves that were buried around that were surely their servers. These numerous monuments were accompanied by other facilities in circles as well as decks and fences designated for rituals.

Even this tourist attraction and funerary sanctuary was the inspiration for the Central Bank of Peru to issue a new edition of the national currency (Nuevo Sol), in commemoration of the Sillustani Chullpas as part of its Numismatics Wealth and Pride.

To arrive to Sillustani we should take the paved road between Puno and Juliaca, 3950 meters above sea level; where you will find one of the largest cemeteries in the world and must see point to visit in Puno.

More information about Puno and Lake Titicaca here.

Treasures of the Northern Kingdoms

The north of Peru has a lot of history, culture and priceless treasures. To visit its archaeological sites, temples and museums will show the extensive pre-Inca past and the magnificence on how ancient people used to live between 100 and 700 A.D.

Ancient cultures that inhabited the valleys of the north of Peru showing many social developments, infrastructure developments, art and mystical traditions.

In Chiclayo we can find more about the Moche Culture that worshiped the god Ai Apaec as main god, the sea and the moon. This society made great hydraulic engineering work and architectural as contemplated in its pyramids and temples.

The new Huaca Rajada – Sipán museum,  exhibits to the world ornaments of the Warrior Priest, whose remains are on a glass vase in which can also be seen jewelry and ceramics and the Sipán dynasty with all his descendants with information about the later periods of Lambayeque and Chimu.

The museum was opened in April 2009 and its main purpose display objects that can be found in future studies on the site of Huaca Rajada - Sipan being one of the newest in the region which cannot  be missed.

Learn more about the treasure of the northern kingdoms: North of Peru

THE PUSHARO PETROGLYPHS

On the banks of the Palatoa river in Manu National Park - Madre de Dios, it’s located the largest petroglyph of Peru, which was carved between 1000 and 2000 A.D. In 2003 It was recognized as an archaeological heritage by the National Institute of Culture of Peru.

The first description of the petroglyphs was made by the Dominican missionary Vicente de Cenitagoya in 1921.  Dr. Carlos Neuenschwander from Arequipa, studied Pusharo site in 1969. Besides its gigantic size, takes our attention  the engraving pictures. Many studious argued that such drawings would be related to the legendary kingdom of Paititi.

The italian researcher Yuri Leveratto indicates that it could be related to the Quiaca petroglyphs.

Most of the glyphs represent  animal hunting, and even when they have not managed to successfully figure out  the drawings,  the closest interpretation would be the one that holds Reichel-Dolmatoff and Schultes & Hofmann: Petroglyphs are representations of the Amazonian mythological people performed by shamans, influenced by the use of hallucinogenic plants.

Not far from the petroglyphs, the recent discovery of giant figures carved on the eastern slope of a mountain, also may significantly change our knowledge of the Incas in this place and the theory of its influence in the Amazonian people, but it hasn’t been demonstrated yet.

 For more information about the Manu National Park: Manu

VALLEY OF THE PYRAMIDS IN THE HEART OF LAMBAYEQUE

In Lambayeque, 33 kilometers north of Chiclayo, can be found the Valley of the Pyramids of Tucume. It is a complex of 26 pyramids made of adobe (clay and sand), also called temples.

These majestic pyramids are up to 40 meters high and cover about 220 hectares surrounding a hill known as “El Purgatorio” (Purgatory), from where you can see the entire valley.

It is known that this area was built around 700 AD, and passed through the hands of the Lambayeque, Chimu and Inca cultures. Travelers can see temples, courtyards, halls and warehouses between these buildings.

In the valley you can take tours through all of the museums, participate in archaeological research and healing rituals, as well as other traditions.

 For more information enter in this link: Chimu Culture

Source: Peruthisweek

Chan Chan's working woman is praised by the UNESCO

The person in charge to take care of the archaeological ruins of Chan Chan, Maria Mendoza, was considered a heroine by the UNESCO, given its ongoing efforts to protect this monument heritage.

Maria Mercedes and other 80 women works at Chan Chan, monitoring the damages left by the passage of time and the weather at the monument. Each one loads in a wheelbarrow, buckets of mud on a detailed work that is repeated every day.

With an inexhaustible patience, Maria Mercedes divides her time: in the morning she takes care of this architectural complex, and in the evening turns into a great housewife.

She grew up next to her mother, who guided her steps and taught her to love the history and traditions of her homeland, to respect the legacy of the ancient Peruvians. Education that puts in practice until today.

The German journalists Ruth Wolter and Astrid Piethan travelled from Germany to Chan Chan as part of the project "Heroes of the Heritage" promoted by the UNESCO in Germany, exclusively to interview María.

In the German city of Bonn, the headquarters of the UNESCO, an exhibition will be held soon with all the protagonists worldwide, and Maria Mercedes is the only representative of all Latin America.

Learn more of the north of Peru and its architectural riches, on the following link: Moche Culture.