The missing link in Lambayeque

Researchers scouring the Lambayeque region for decades in an attempt to discover more about its most ancient past have directed their attention towards the archaeological site of El Chorro, located in the district of Pomalca.

Their efforts were successful.

November 25, 2009 | Archaeology

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Severed heads among discovery at Sacsayhuamán

Above the Inca capital of Cusco (Q’osco) sits the important ceremonial site and one of human-kinds most impressive constructions called Sacsayhuamán, which despite its global fame still offers up secrets to investigators. Yesterday the discovery was announced of three burials, one of which contained the severed heads of the Inca’s enemies.

November 13, 2009 | Archaeology, News, Opinion

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Chan Chan under constant threat

Only 5 of the 134 projects of the nine-year-old so called “master plan” have been executed to date, Repeated illegal land invasions by locals one of the principle problems for the ancient site. Chan Chan, the ancient capital city of the Chimú, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 because of its extraordinary architectural and historical importance. Unfortunately, the list World Heritage sites isn’t the only UNESCO list it is on.

July 6, 2009 | Archaeology, News

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Huaca Huantille

The Huaca Huantille was one of countless archaeological sites lost among the urban sprawl of Lima, forgotten and neglected. That was until Francis Allison, mayor of the district of Magdalena del Mar where the pyramidal structure is located, decided to try to restore it along with the run down neighbourhood it is located in.

April 6, 2009 | Archaeology, Lima City Guide

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Houses on the Rimac could be washed away at any moment

Since mass migration from rural Peru expanded the city of Lima to its current size, people have been building on land they really shouldn’t have been. People built their new homes on land that wasn’t theirs but were eventually issued titles too when they became entrenched and established. A process that in Peru is called “invading”, this is how most of the poorer districts of Lima got started – districts that now have sewage and water systems, streets, hospitals restaurants. Sometimes, the homes of the newly arrived where built not only on land that wasn’t theirs, but on land where it isn’t safe to do so. You see this all the time with shacks clinging onto steep sandy cliffs.

Just north of the colonial centre of Lima, a few blocks walk from Av. Argentina and Las Malvinas, are several disorganised blocks of houses on part of the flood plain of the river Rimac.

March 19, 2009 | News

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Bosque de Pomac squatters murder unarmed police officers

Famous Japanese archaeologist Izumi Shimada brought to our attention not many months ago the systematic destruction of the Sicán pyramids and algarobo forests by invasores – squatters who illegaly occupy land. Rushing to Peru and forced to abandon his teaching position in South Illinois University, he attempted to make local authorities to take action. Unfortunately, regional police chief Víctor Ordinola explained his force was too busy preparing for independence day festivities.

It had been almost 7 years since the natural and archaeological sanctuary of the Bosque de Pomac had been invaded and settled. The destruction was immediate, with vast areas of natural habitat for endangered species destroyed. With the destruction of part of an ancient Sicán temple, and after a six month delay, local authorities yesterday decided to act.

January 21, 2009 | News

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Huaca Mateo Salado

Found at at the Plaza de la Bandera where the district of Pueblo Libre meets Breña and Lima Cercado, the ruins of five pyramids that make up this Lima Culture complex called Huaca Mateo Salado tower over the surrounding modern houses.

September 10, 2008 | Archaeology, Culture & History, Lima City Guide

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Lima’s other side

The fertile green mountain valleys of the Andes were traded for the rocky desert wasteland that is the Peruvian desert coast. There were no homes for the new arrivals, nor land, nor money to buy either – so they had to invade.

March 6, 2008 | Lima City Guide, Opinion

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