Going into my second week here in Peru I find myself waiting, as I knew I would, for my "Convenio"...the permission paperwork I need to work on the Saqsaywaman archaeological park.  I drafted a whole research proposal and it is being translated into Spanish at this moment.  It will be submitted to the park management on Friday and then we will be doing a Pacha Mama ceremony there.  Whenever you work on the land here in Peru, you honor the spirit of Pacha Mama by making an offering.  I've done this each time I've been here and I'm hoping this time to be able to film this sacred ceremony.  I will be working with a Shaman and the people at the Ministry of Culture.  And, I'll have my friend/blogger Miriam Sieden with me as well as Fiorela from Maximo Nevel to help with the translations. 
More on this ceremony next blog.

So, in the meantime, I've been visiting the various amazing ancient sites here in Q'osqo and engaging in my secondary research passion...ancient stone architecture.  A little history on this aspect of my passion for Peru is needed.

When I first arrived at Saqsaywaman in 2010, I knew the archaeological park was dedicated to the preservation of the main temple complex wall.  And, I knew this wall was made of megalithic stones.  But, what I didn't know then was that there really are several types of stones in various types of architecture here in Saqsaywaman and in the general Q'osqo area...and beyond. 

Thus, starting in 2010, I starting studying the ancient stone structures found here In Peru (Andes & coastal).  When I immersed myself in this research, I also found that there are megalithic stone structures around the world that are similar to those here in Peru.  Over the years since 2010, I've become fascinated with the documentation of these locations and am trying to understand what all these stone ambassadors from the past have to tell us about our human history on this planet as a whole.

Stone Types In Q'osqo, Peru
Let's start where I started, with the various stone structures here in Q'osqo and up the hill at the Saqsaywaman archaeological park.  Everywhere you walk here in town and up in Saqsaywaman, if you look closely, you notice that some stones looks much more finished and perfectly fitted together than others.  It doesn't take much of a walk to find examples of stone walls where the lower course (most often the oldest) is the most perfect in construction, whereas the stones on the top are often crude.  This anomaly challenges our belief that human cultural progress, including architectural skills, should be at their peek now.  But, what we find here in Peru is that the oldest structures are often the most perfect and the newer architecture, especially the contemporary work, is often crude and imperfect. 

Controversy About The Stones

There is quite a bit of controversy about the age of these stone artifacts, the way the stones were cut, moved, and placed in these massive walls and buildings.  There are archaeological opinions.  There are ancient alien theories.  There are names for the types of stone work based on the type of rock, the design of the stone, the presence of a vitrified surface (that indicates some source of heat melted the surface)...there is NO lack of theories about these various stone buildings and walls and who made them. 

The one consistent factor is that there really isn't a definitive theory, that everyone can agree on, as to the history of these stone structures.  The other consistent factor is that people who see these stones are almost always amazed at their construction and wonder "how did the ancient people who were supposed to have simple stone tools and copper chisels make these structures?"

The diversity in the types of stones and perfectly cut structures (like the one Maren is sitting by) is mind blowing.  Everywhere you go in Q'osqp and up at Saqsaywaman, you encounter stones that defy explanation and boggle the mind.  For me...understanding the message these stones have for us is a pursuit that keeps me busy in my off time.   I love finding a new documentary about these enigmatic stones around the world; the new academic paper by a peer; or coming across a new structure or stone I haven't seen before here in Peru.

When I planned to come down to Q'osqo (Cusco), my hope was to meet with the new Director of the Parque de Archeological de Saqsaywaman by the second week and, hopefully, get an update and permission to work on the site again.  I had no idea we would be welcomed so quickly and warmly as we were today!

With the help of two of the heritage professionals we worked with before, Jose Antonio Reynoso & Samuel Kjuro Arenas, a meeting was schedule with the Director Francisco Solis Diaz for today, January 3rd.  I had to quickly update my presentation and get ready in less than 24 hours for this important meeting. 

They were particularly interested in the fact that my recent DNA test showed that I have 1% Andean blood in me.  The director said "I'll have 10% in me by the time I leave." 

I was lucky to have one of the client services managers from Maximo Nivel, Fiorela Romero, assist to translate...and she did a GREAT job!  The meeting started, much to my relief, with Jose Antonio and Samuel giving the director a recap of the work we had done before describing it as "valuable" and "impartial."  Then, I gave a 30 minute PowerPoint presentation about the project and then we had a discussion about how we might be of assistance from this date forward. 

The head of park anthropological research, Miguel Silva, was also there and helped to clarify what the status of each community is currently.  There are many new issues, mainly the expansion of Q'osqo into the park boundaries, as well as some other issues in new communities that we have not worked in before.

The new director, Francisco Solis Diaz, seems to have worked to calm some of the conflicts that existed on this site last time we were here.  It seems that each community now has a representative that speaks to the Ministry and helps to iron out various issues.  The director has direct relationships with a few of the communities and we will plan to interview him later in the month to document how he negotiated solutions to some of the conflicts that existed before.  He feels that the communities of Pucara, Fortelaza & Wayllarqocha currently have good relationships with the Ministry.  Whereas, there are a couple other locations that would benefit from our help to discover what the issues might need to be addressed. 

The map of the archaeological park has changed a bit since we were here last, so we will be getting a new master plan for the site so we can identify locations we can be helpful.  One of the pressing problems the park has right now is encrochment from the city below, Q'osqo. 

Our next step is to put together a formal project proposal and submit it, in Spanish, to the office Matera Direccion Desconcentrada  del Cultura de Q'osqo so we can be given a convenio...basically our permission to work on the site to do academic research.  I will be working, hopefully with Fiorela Romero (from Maximo Nivel) to do this.  I will have a meeting tomorrow with Marco Boyd, director of International Programs at Maximo Nivel, to see if we can retain the services of Fiorela as our project translator.  Hope so...she did a great job today during a pretty technical meeting.

After the meeting we took a quick tour of the main Saqsaywaman complex.  Mario Canajo spoke about the current thinking about the volcanic stone outcrop at the center of the complex. 

The most recent information is that the Inca believed this stone, which is obviously volcanic in nature, was believe to be the "Q'osqo"...navel of the Earth.  The Inca believed this stone structure was sacred as it was the original mound that emerged to form the city.  

I'll have more about this aspect of Saqsaywaman, as well as the main wall complex in a later blog.  This site consists of so many unique stone structures, both man made and natural that it's easy to understand why there's a desire to preserve the site for humanity.