Cerro de las Monjas, Marcahuamachuco, . Photo by GHF Marcahuamachuco, Peru Pre-Inca City of the Dead

Site Significance its surroundings, Marcahuamachuco contains several major compounds surrounded by During the Andean Early Middle Horizon curved stone walls as high as 12 meters, (300–700A.D.) a regional highland state starts with inner galleries, rooms and plazas which emerging, having as one of its main principal suggest administrative and ceremonial locations the extended monumental site of functions. Marcahuamachuco in the northern highlands of Peru. Archaeological evidence shows Project Goals increased articulation of culture to the neighboring northern () and Global Heritage Fund is working with the southern highlands (Conchucos and Callejón Unidad Ejecutivo Marcahuamachuco (UEM) to de Huaylas), and to some extent to the Pacific prepare a program of planning, conservation Coast (with the Moche tradition). and community development to enable long- term site sustainability. During the later Middle (700-900 A.D.) and into the Intermediate Late Horizons (until around Preservation by Design® 1200 A.D.), archaeological evidence suggests Planning that the walls were used for human burials Threats contributing to the ceremonial functions of the There is an urgent need to systematically Vegetation overgrowth, Natural disaster site. Marcahuamachuco became a prominent retrieve, digitize and organize information center at the same time that the from past publications and graphic material, Start Date in southern Peru flourished (400–1100 A.D.). a good deal of which is not available in Peru. 2011 Abandonment of Marcahuamachuco was This will be a first component where the GHF possibly in the 15th century. project can strengthen and support the work of UEM. This process has already been initiated Built on top of an isolated plateau 5 kilometers with a visit to the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum long and 500 meters wide with a vast view of of Anthropology at University of California, Berkeley, to examine the records of Max Uhle With the participation of the UEM engagement through participatory processes which are archived there. archaeologists, a research program in to identify and implement activities through support of the conservation program will be which the local communities can find ways Based on the available information and that conducted in order to better understand the to learn about the site and its proper care, to be collected in the field, as well as up-to- Marcahuamachuco stone walls’ construction establish the cultural and historical links date data on the state of conservation and techniques and conduct a comprehensive between their heritage and their contemporary endangerment of the site, GHF in cooperation analysis of and report on the nature of rural cultures, and target strategies to generate with UEM will input into the master conservation vegetation within the compounds, including income opportunities through increased process and development of a scientific a recommendation of which of the most visitation. Activities will include development conservation plan detailing conservation damaging plants can be safely removed from of a Guides Association and Community- technology and techniques needed and at-risk areas. based Tourism Association, promotion of retrieving all available information to support traditional craft development, training in key archaeological documentation of the site. The project will also conduct analysis of existing English, development of lodging alternatives mortars and research into original engineering and regional attractions encouraging longer Global Heritage Network (GHN) will serve as principles for stone wall construction, including stays in the region. the online database platform for site- and wooden elements. This will include on-site project documentation and presentation. testing of materials suitable for conservation Project Partnerships use, ideally closely resembling the historic GHF and the Patronato Cultural del Perú materials while, at the same time, being clearly Conservation Science (Peru Heritage Trust) have jointly started identifiable to the expert observer as new and GHF will implement a joint program with launching a co-funding campaign targeting the conservation intervention materials. UEM for the conservation of one of the Peruvian private sector, particularly the mining major monumental compounds in the companies in the area, as well as Peruvian and Community Marcahuamachuco complex (Las Monjas). foreign corporations from the cities of Trujillo, This model conservation program of one of At the same time the UEM has considered Lima and abroad. Two institutional members the most significant compounds will provide the need for a community engagement and of PCP, the private Fundación Wiese (with a the technical skills and roadmap for gradually sustainable development program in which site long standing tradition of funding conservation improving the scientific conservation of the neighbors as well as residents of Huamachuco of pre-hispanic heritage sites) and the British numerous remaining monuments on the site town and surrounding rural villages can benefit Peruvian Cultural Association, have already (approximately 19) and surrounding stonewall from the Marcahuamachuco conservation offered their support in this campaign. of the site over the next five years. GHF will program. Increased numbers of visitors may sponsor a core group of archaeologists, well open opportunities for visitor’s services conservators and engineers and provide (lodging, food, crafts) to be provided by locals. scientific support for state of the art mapping of the site. GHF will contribute with additional, locally hired professional expertise on community

Tourists at Marcahuamachuco. Photo by GHF Invasive vegetation on site structure. Photo by GHF

The site of Marcahuamachuco was a major regional center in the Andean Early Middle Horizon period (300–700A.D.). 625 Emerson Street, Suite 200 Palo Alto, CA 94301

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