Peruvian Cuisine
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CHASQUI PERUVIAN MAIL Year 9, Issue 18 Cultural Bulletin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs December, 2011 Urn. One of the Machu Picchu collection pieces. Possibly imported from the Lake Titicaca region. Cave 6A. Height: 21.9 cm. Diameter at perimeter: 7.7 Maximum Diameter: 17.3 Urn. One of the Machu Picchu collection pieces. Possibly imported from Lake Titicaca THE RETURN OF THE MACHU PICCHU COLLECTION/ PERUVIAN CUISINE: A RICH CULINARY HERITAGE / REMEMBERING JOSÉ MARÍA ARGUEDAS THE RETURN OF THE MACHU PICCHU COLLECTION TREASURES RETURN HOME It has been almost one hundred years since the Peruvian government granted Yale University the privilege of taking artifacts from the then recently discovered archeological site of Machu Picchu out of the country. The condition attached to this privilege was that they would be returned in a year’s time, after having been studied and displayed. Despite the delay in their return, the arrival in Peru of these artifacts discovered by Hiram Bingham demonstrates that it is indeed possible to fight for cultural treasures to be returned to their countries of origin. The World is Introduced to a tage found during excavation to be Wonder of the World authorized by and coordinated with In July, 1911, Hiram Bingham the Peruvian government. (Honolulu, 1875-Washington D. It was in this context that a C., 1956), a Yale Professor of Ar- temporary loan was granted for the ational Geographic. cheology interested in 16th cen- N objects found by Bingham. The tury Peruvian history, located the Peruvian government granted per- archeological site of Machu Picchu. Photo: mission for these relics to be trans- “Fortress”, “Sanctuary” and ported to Yale from 1912 through “citadel” are just a few of the terms 1916. The agreement included a which have since been used to provision for the artifacts to be refer to this stone complex. What returned within 18 months of their is known for sure is that the site at- departure from the country. This tracted the attention of specialized did not occur, however, within the researchers. agreed-upon period of time. Bingham, with the support of This legacy was not forgotten institutions from his home country, in Peru. There are letters dating such as Yale University and the back to 1918 sent by the Peruvian National Geographic Society, un- government to the American in- dertook a series of excavations and stitutions involved in the loan, studies, the fruits of which were a requesting the return of the Machu large quantity of pre-Columbian Picchu collection. objects and remains. World War One, in which Hiram When Bingham executed this Bingham took on a combat role, project, applicable legislation in was one of the first arguments used Peru established a number of norms to postpone the honoring of the concerning the treatment of cul- agreement. tural Heritage. For example, in The return of this collection 1822, early in Peru’s independent Hiram Bingham. continued to be delayed. The last history, a decree was passed estab- segment of this story begins in lishing restrictions on the export of arrival, an executive decree was the authorization of the Peruvian 2003, when it was established by archeological relics. Several months passed prohibiting the execution government. Likewise, it required decree that the repatriation of the prior to the American explorer’s of archeological activity without the transfer of any historical Heri- collection was “of national interest". Contact with Yale University was reestablished in that year. MEssagE The Return eru's image abroad is inexorably linked to the recognition of the richness and After series of meetings at which Puniqueness of our cultural diversity. Peruvian culture- pristine, ancient and vibrant, little progress was made, a memoran- indigenous, mestizo and cosmopolitan, presents an enormous heritage and a wide plurality dum of understanding was reached in 2007, and was the first step in of contemporary expressions. It is projected to the world referencing our talent for the return of the treasure of Machu intercultural dialogue, that for safeguarding traditional values, the talent of artists, Picchu. This agreement allowed intellectuals and promoters recreating it, and to the contribution that said culture makes Peruvian specialists to conduct an inventory of the artifacts, in order towards the sustainable development of Peru and Peruvian communities abroad. to finally have knowledge of the exact contents of the collection. The projection of Peru's culture is an essential element of our Foreign Policy, and, to The guidelines for the adoption of a this end, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes Chasqui. Peruvian Mail, a cultural definitive agreement satisfactory to both parties were set forth in good bulletin which, from its very origin, in 2003, has devoted its pages to publishing the faith in this document, and included most representative elements of Peruvian culture. On this occasion, I have the immense the principles of cooperation and satisfaction of presenting to the world Issue 18, dedicated to the Nation's Cultural Heritage friendship, future collaboration in the fields of archeology and natural and the importance of actions taken abroad for the restitution and repatriation of cultural history, travelling exhibitions, and goods illicitly exported from Peru. a Machu Picchu museum and re- search center. Rafael Roncagliolo There were then a number of ad- Minister of Foreign Affairs vances and setbacks in this process, until, in 2010, another agreement was reached with Yale University. CHASQUI 2 On November 23rd, Peru and Yale 5. On September 17th, 2010,a University signed a Memorandum public hearing was held at the of Understanding, in virtue of which Hartford Courthouse in Hartford the University adopted the following Connecticut. At this hearing, commitments: which was 5 hours in duration, • The return of museum-quality Peru presented its solid arguments artifacts and other artifacts before Judge Alvin W. Thompson. of study in time for the com- Peru sought the return by Yale memoration of the centennial University of its objects of cultural of the scientific discovery of heritage, including archeological Machu Picchu. artifacts, fragments, and human remains taken from Machu Picchu • The return of a quantity of Archive. Affairs Photo: Ministry of Foreign and adjacent areas. fragments and other artifacts of study in late 2011. 6. On September 28th, 2010, Presi- • The return of the remainder dent Alan García Pérez urged Yale of the artifacts bound by the University to return the artifacts agreement by December, 2012, “Paccha” or ceremonial bowl, modeled on the form of a human hand holding a glass (q’ero). taken almost a century previously at the latest. Possibly imported from the Northern Coast of Peru. Height: 7.8 cm. Diameter at edge: 5.2 cm. by July 7th, 2011. Maximum diameter: 14 cm. Machu Picchu collection. Through this agreement, Peru He stated that this date was the and Yale University laid the ground- Centennial of the Encounter of work for fruitful collaboration, Machu Picchu and the Western both for the conservation of these World, and, as such, the sanctuary materials and for the development should be completed with all of its of research and studies by the in- treasures [on this date]; likewise, ternational scientific community. he stated that 100 years had gone As part of the agreement, Peru will by, and that this was sufficient facilitate access to the returned time to return materials taken for materials for research and academic study. study in a manner consistent with Peruvian law. 7. On October 25th, 2010, Presi- dent Alan García Pérez announced Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archive. Affairs Photo: Ministry of Foreign Yale and Peru consider this agree- the beginning of a domestic and ment to be a gesture of goodwill that international campaign to recover should be furthered through a joint the artifacts and objects taken research cooperation program. from Machu Picchu, taken to Yale In virtue of the abovementioned University (located in the United agreement, and at the request States) 100 years beforehand, and, of both parties, the U.S. District added that, if needed, Peru would Court for the District of Connecti- speak to the leaders of every nation cut granted the suspension of the on earth regarding this objective. corresponding judicial procedure Likewise, he called for the first na- until the occurrence of any of the tional demonstration to be held on following events: (i) the return to Peru, without any conflicts arising November 5th, 2010, in which civil between the parties, by December society, and the country's institu- 31st, 2012; (ii) the presenting of a tions and authorities participated request by either party to resume in order to make it apparent that the judicial procedure; or (iii) the the nation as a whole was united in presentation to the Court of a joint the objective of the vindication and motion by the representatives of recovery of the artifacts taken from both parties stating that the case Machu Picchu that Yale University has been resolved in satisfactory continued to hold illegally. manner, at which point the case 8. In a letter dated November 2nd, shall be closed. 2010, addressed to Mr. Barack As a result, a selection of the most Vase decorated with a circular feline and black and red paint. Height: 50.7 cm. Diameter at Obama, President of the United visually striking artifacts found at edge: 19. 4 cm. Maximum diameter: 47. 5 cm. Machu Picchu collection. States of America, the [Peruvian] the site was on display for the cen- Head of State, Alan García Pérez tennial of the scientific discovery of a suit in against Yale University in Peruvian Government in December, requested the intervention of the Machu Picchu. It is hoped that the the District Court of Washington 2008, refuting the jurisdiction of the former and assistance for the re- Hiram Bingham collection in its en- D.C, District of Columbia, demand- District of Colombia District Court turn of the Machu Picchu artifacts, tirety will be returned by late 2012.