ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE IN THE AUSANGATE VALLEY

Threats of Irreparable Destruction

Will we destroy our heritage and erase our cultural identity?
Adan CHOQQUE ARCE
Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco
Cusco, Peru, 2009

[Online published]
http://www.monografias.com/trabajos-pdf4/patrimonio-arqueologico-valle-del-
ausangate/patrimonio-arqueologico-valle-del-ausangate.pdf

Abstract
Ausangate valley is located in the foothills of the Mount of the same name, near to Vilcanota River.
Politically, the valley comprises the districts and part of Checacupe and Pitumarca in the province
of Canchis, southeast of the Cusco region, Peru. This valley was in the past and is now a suitable
place for human habitation, for special environmental features it has. According to archaeological
investigations it is constituted with evidences as pre-Hispanic hydraulic channels, human bones,
enclosures, platforms, ceremonial spaces and roads, showing continuous occupation from the Late
Intermediate Period to Late Horizon (Inka), and its representative archaeological site is Machu-
Pitumarka.
A society to be such must have something to define itself: a common past, heritage, a shared
interest, an identity that strengthens its values, expressed in intangible culture (folklore, traditions,
customs, etc.) and the Material ones, which are works produced by the human hand, or in
combination with nature; these are capital assets with an intrinsic cultural character. In these lines
we do not reference sanctions against breaches on this heritage, embodied in international charters
and conventions, rules or laws protecting the Cultural Heritage. We discuss what happens daily at
the sight of all: An unfortunate reality with the gradual loss of archaeological elements and
evidence.
The major problems are, (1) looting of archaeological sites, commonly known as huaqueo (in
Quechua), with the consequent clandestine trade of their pieces, and (2) acts of vandalism, a
tendency to devastate and destroy archaeological materials.