Huaca Pucllana

I ventured into the one of the many archeological sites that Peru is the home of today.  Said to be the oldest civilization within Lima going all the way back to 200 D.C., Huaca Pucllana was the home of a coastal people.  Their temple sat in a location where the sea could be seen during times of sacrifice and celebration.  Today views to be taken in from the site are of the neighborhood that has grown up around it.  Sad but true, when excavation of the site began in 1981 more than three square blocks of housing had been built over the top of the ruins.

Huaca 1

"The tour begins in about twenty minutes.  You're welcome to walk through the display we have set up to the left while you wait."  The display was a small room with some of the artifacts that had been found within the site, five minutes later I was waiting with the other English speakers on the patio.  Peter and Shelly were waiting outside with their family when I sat on one of the benches.  I soon learned that the family had grown up in Ballard, Red Door regulars.  Peter is living her in Lima as a mining consultant.  Too many of the locals and conservationists he is the enemy.  All I have heard natives speak of when this labor sector comes up in conversation is that everyone is corrupt.  Naturally after a bit of inquiring I asked him of his thoughts on the issue.  Schulmberger has strict policy on this issue; regulations are over the top sometimes. All of my actions have to fall into very tight policy lines.  He used the process of getting a drivers license as an example.  Normally the laminated card is a bribe away; ten minutes later...no test...you have your license.  He has been trying for the last week to obtain legal rights to drive here in Lima.  With government corruption at the top of everyone's mind, Schlumberger is following the law to a T, down to imposing employees to obtain drivers licenses legally.  I'm not grounded in an opinion regarding mining in Peru, if I had to choose a side I would encourage the halt of mineral extraction.  It's good to know that the companies are going through the hell of strict policy to acquire conglomerate resources and money...big money.  Peter's job aside, Shelly works in a hospital in Vermont right now.  Good people, the kind that after five minutes were offering to take mail to the states with them to be posted at 45 cents rather than two dollars internationally. 

Huaca 2

The tour began about ten minutes after taking my seat.  We were led through Huaca Pucllana with the sun directly in the center of the sky...hot.  Limans were a people that worshiped their mother the sea.  Artifacts revolved around the animals that lived in the water beyond the cliffs, the shark held highest in admiration.  They were a people of sacrifice.  Bodies were found in multiple parts of the ruins, all female with tell tale marks of blunt force trauma to their heads.  The construction of the ruins was the most interesting aspect of the tour.  They built one layer upon another, first filling in the primary with sand before starting the subsequent.  Bricks were set logway vertical with a small amount a space in between.  Earthquakes are common and have long durations, aftershocks can stretch out for a week when the earth feeling more violent.  Less than thirty years ago the large temple and surrounding structures was a giant mound of dirt.  Kids played soccer on top of the hill, BMX in was even more popular in the location.  Three weeks ago they found another burial site with many small trinkets and a gold mask.  Goes to show that sometimes you never know what you have right underneath your nose. 

Huaca 3

When our group finished the tour, Peter gave me a business card and offered his hand.  "Ryan if you need anything, give me a call."  I hope to have the opportunity to shadow him for a day during my stay in Peru.  He is what many would call the enemy.  I want to see first hand what the enemy is doing here in Peru, while making a friend in the process.     

Huaca 4

Huaca 5

Peruvian pets...crazy mohawk

Random TV comercial shooting