Research in the heart of the Andes

Another season of the Polish-Peruvian research project at UW research station in Cusco is in progress in Machu Picchu. The researchers focus not only on discovering the secrets of the Inca city, but also on renovating certain monuments.

– Apart from analysing the condition of pre-Hispanic architecture, we are working on groundmass analysis as well as on laser 3D scanning of the complex of the Archaeological National Park of Machu Picchu – informs Professor Mariusz Ziółkowski, the head of the UW Centre for Precolumbian Studies and established in 2010 UW research station in Cusco. The project is conducted in cooperation with the Laboratory of 3D Scanning and Modelling of the Wrocław University of Technology. The present works are headed by Professor Jacek Kościuk, an experienced associate of the UW Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology in Cairo and the director of the Archaeological Park in Machu Picchu – Fernando Estate Victoria, MA. Other members of Polish research team are Bartłomiej Ćmielewski, MA and Aleksandra Nowacka, MA.

For the second half of August the next stage of research is scheduled – the orientation study of the main ceremonial buildings of Mach Picchu. This part of the project will be headed by Professor Mariusz Ziółkowski.

It should be emphasized that during current activities in the old capital city the research initiated by the UW Centre for Precolumbian Studies in 2008 is continued. At the request of the Peruvian authorities Polish scientists were preparing experts opinion diagnosing the condition of several important monuments of Machu Picchu complex, including the Temple of the Sun (Torreón), the Royal Tomb beneath the temple (Tumba Real), Inhituatana altar and the Holy Rock (Roca Sagrada). The research team was joined by scientists from other Polish academic centres, among others, by Professor Rafał Czerner from Wrocław University of Technology and Dr Jacek Martusewicz from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. The report on these works presented to the Peruvian party led to extending the invitation and commencing another stage of the research.

At present Machu Picchu is not the only research site of UW archaeologists on the territory of the Andes. In the middle of July the research resumed on the northern coast of Peru – as part of Castillo de Huarmey project; the works are headed by Dr Miłosz Giersz. At the beginning of August Maciej Sobczyk, MA, initiated another season of research in Maucallacta – the main shrine and oracle of Coropuna volcano (Arequipa, Peru).

Established in 2010 the UW Centre for the Andes Studies in Cusco is not only a research unit, but also, to some extent, a centre of education. The centre offers training in absolute dating for archaeological purposes and earth studies for Peruvian researchers. It is headed by a UW associate, Dr Andrzej Rakowski, an employee of the Laboratory of Radioisotopes Applications of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice.

– We hope that the UW Centre for the Andes Studies in Cusco – the second University centre located abroad, apart from the Centre of Mediterranean Archeology in Cairo, will act as a coordinating unit of Polish research works on the territory of the Andes conducted not only by archaeologists and anthropologists, but also by experts in other disciplines – says Professor Mariusz Ziółkowski, the head of the new station.

The website of the UW Centre for Precolumbian Studies