The vast network of paved roads built by the Incas throughout the Andean range and the western coast of South America, the Qapaq Ñan, shared by six countries of the region, is been proposed as a historical monument to be appointed as a World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO.
The Qapaq Ñan was made of stone paths and hanging bridges over the Andean rivers, steps and ramps were built to overcome the steep slopes. It connected the four regions of the Inca Empire, called by them Tahuantinsuyo (the four quarters of the world). Trains of llamas carrying goods used to go through these roads as well as the “chasquis”, the mail runners who kept the Inca and his people informed about the latest news and statistics of their world.
The famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the best examples of the greatness of the Qapaq Ñan; thousands of trekkers have already experienced this fabulous journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail is rated among the ten best trekking trails in the world because of its striking beauty, ancient Inca ruins and diverse ecological zones.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Expedition reaches unexplored area of the Colca Canyon
An international team of scientists and explorers lead by the Polish Jerzy Majcherczyk traveled through the narrowest area of the Colca Canyon, the second deepest in the world after Cotahuasi Canyon, both in the southern Peruvian Andes, exploring, filming and gathering scientific information about the canyon and its origin. On the nine-day journey, covering 20 kilometers of the area called “Cruz Del Condor”, the explorers discovered an archaeological site; a funeral compound dug high on one of the canyon’s walls. The Colca Canyon is 3,400 meters deep.
The expedition was called “Colca Condor 2008” and gathered a team of Americans, Polishes and Peruvians adventurers, who made a detailed topographic image of the area that was included with their scientific research on a documentary shown in Warsaw, Poland, last September.
The expedition was called “Colca Condor 2008” and gathered a team of Americans, Polishes and Peruvians adventurers, who made a detailed topographic image of the area that was included with their scientific research on a documentary shown in Warsaw, Poland, last September.
Secrets of the “Huaca” Pucllana revealed
After three years of research since its discovery, a burial chamber that was found in the “Huaca” Pucllana archaeological site was recently made public. It is the first untouched tomb found from the Wari Culture (AD 700). Inside the tomb, three mummies where found wrapped in layers of textiles and ropes, a male and female with funeral masks on them and a child that may had been sacrificed. The female’s mask was found in pristine condition, she then was named the Lady of the Mask. Among other objects found at the burial chamber are ceramics, tools and textiles made of cotton and alpaca fibers.
The “Huaca” Pucllana is an adobe pyramidal structure located within the city of Lima in the modern district of Miraflores; it was built by the Lima Culture around AD 400 and eventually became part of the Wari Empire, which was based in the Andean region of Ayacucho.
The “Huaca” Pucllana is an adobe pyramidal structure located within the city of Lima in the modern district of Miraflores; it was built by the Lima Culture around AD 400 and eventually became part of the Wari Empire, which was based in the Andean region of Ayacucho.
APEC Summit and the Declaration of Lima
Leaders from the Member Economies of the APEC decided to avoid protectionism and not raise trade barriers over the year 2009 in order to overcome the current global financial crisis. The agreement was done at the 16th summit held in Peru on November last year where members subscribed the Declaration of Lima, which also includes the encouragement of free trade, avoid economic recession and battle global warming.
APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation) was established in 1989 to further economic growth and prosperity for the region as well as to strengthen the Asia-Pacific community. The 21 APEC countries account for half the world’s economic activity, more than a third of the world’s population (2.6 billion people), and over 50% of world GDP (US$19,254 billion).
APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation) was established in 1989 to further economic growth and prosperity for the region as well as to strengthen the Asia-Pacific community. The 21 APEC countries account for half the world’s economic activity, more than a third of the world’s population (2.6 billion people), and over 50% of world GDP (US$19,254 billion).
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Royal palace discovered in Cusco
According to the archaeologists that found the site in Cusco, the structure may have been part of the royal palace of the Inca Pachacútec’s wife. Pachacútec (He who remakes the world) is remember as the first Inca emperor who began the expansion and the organization of the empire, as well as for his architectural and engineering legacy that reach monumental proportions across the empire including the redesign of its capital, Cusco, in the XV century.
Among the discoveries are two enclosures and part of a stone wall, which was built using the same technology used to build the Koricancha temple during Pachacútec’s reign. Two funeral areas were found as well, one with the remains of a woman buried with a few kitchen ceramics, and the other hasn’t been uncovered yet.
Among the discoveries are two enclosures and part of a stone wall, which was built using the same technology used to build the Koricancha temple during Pachacútec’s reign. Two funeral areas were found as well, one with the remains of a woman buried with a few kitchen ceramics, and the other hasn’t been uncovered yet.
The Avelinos of Junín dance was declared National Heritage
The National Cultural Institute (INC) declared the dance from Huancayo a National Cultural Heritage since it contributes to state the regional and national identity. The Avelinos of Junín historical, cultural and religious content were considered in its declaration.
The music is play with traditional Andean instruments such as the “tinya”, a hand-made leather drum, and the “wacra”, a trumpet made out of a bull horn, as well as the Andean harp, violins, clarinets and saxophones.
The dance features a historical event where Andrés Avelino Cáceres, the leader of the resistance against the Chilean invasion in the 1800’s, chose the best youngsters from the district of San Jeronimo de Tunán, Huancayo, to form a spy organization in order to get information about the enemy.
The music is play with traditional Andean instruments such as the “tinya”, a hand-made leather drum, and the “wacra”, a trumpet made out of a bull horn, as well as the Andean harp, violins, clarinets and saxophones.
The dance features a historical event where Andrés Avelino Cáceres, the leader of the resistance against the Chilean invasion in the 1800’s, chose the best youngsters from the district of San Jeronimo de Tunán, Huancayo, to form a spy organization in order to get information about the enemy.
A 4,500 years old temple was discovered in Lambayeque
Recently, the Peruvian archaeologist Ignacio Alva discovered a structure that could mark the origin of the northern cultures of Peru such as the Moche, in Chiclayo, Lambayeque. The temple was built with mud; it has 20 meters on its side and is part of three sections that together form a pyramid on the Ventarrón hill. It is decorated with designs of fish and fishnets.
On the ground floor that includes the first phase built 4,500 years ago, a modeled image of two fish crossed and looking in opposite directions near a fire altar was found. This image is similar in size and technique to the “crossed hands”, a modeled in the archaeological site of Kotosh located in the central Andes in Huánuco, which is 4,000 years old. Mud and walls that were built on top of older structures for many years cover most of the site.
It is possible that this structure was part of a religious hub since archaeological evidences that point to that theory have been found in its surroundings.
On the ground floor that includes the first phase built 4,500 years ago, a modeled image of two fish crossed and looking in opposite directions near a fire altar was found. This image is similar in size and technique to the “crossed hands”, a modeled in the archaeological site of Kotosh located in the central Andes in Huánuco, which is 4,000 years old. Mud and walls that were built on top of older structures for many years cover most of the site.
It is possible that this structure was part of a religious hub since archaeological evidences that point to that theory have been found in its surroundings.
New luxury lodges in the Amazonas region
Two important tourist destinations in the Amazonas region will soon offer new lodges aimed to satisfy the demand from the ecological and luxurious market. One will be built near the Kuelap archaeological site and the other will offer rooms in front of the Gocta Falls.
Kuelap was built around 800 A.D. by the Chachapoyas, a fierce people that for years resisted the Incas colonization. Kuelap’s three entrances are narrow alleys between high walls of stones that become narrower as they reach the upper levels. There are 420 circular stone buildings in the citadel, which are decorated with rhombus and zigzag designs around them as well as carved stones with animal and anthropomorphic motifs. Beautiful orchids and bromeliads surround the structures.
The Gocta Falls, located in the cloud forests of northern Peru, is one of the highest in the planet at 771 meters high. It was unknown to the outside world until discovered in 2002. The locals of Chachapoyas kept it a secret for centuries because of a myth about a beautiful blond mermaid who lives in its waters and would bring a curse down on them if they revealed its whereabouts.
Kuelap was built around 800 A.D. by the Chachapoyas, a fierce people that for years resisted the Incas colonization. Kuelap’s three entrances are narrow alleys between high walls of stones that become narrower as they reach the upper levels. There are 420 circular stone buildings in the citadel, which are decorated with rhombus and zigzag designs around them as well as carved stones with animal and anthropomorphic motifs. Beautiful orchids and bromeliads surround the structures.
The Gocta Falls, located in the cloud forests of northern Peru, is one of the highest in the planet at 771 meters high. It was unknown to the outside world until discovered in 2002. The locals of Chachapoyas kept it a secret for centuries because of a myth about a beautiful blond mermaid who lives in its waters and would bring a curse down on them if they revealed its whereabouts.
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