Program and Events

International Archaeological Congress 

U.S. specialists participate in International Archaeological Congress in North Peru

The US Embassy recently invited two US experts on trafficking of Cultural Patrimony and Earth Conservation to attend an archeology conference in Chiclayo in November 15-18.  More then 250 archeologists, architects and speakers attended, packing the auditoriums. 

The Conference was hosted by the Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (ICPNA) in Chiclayo and the Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipan. The event was organized to celebrate the ICPNA’s 50th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the discovery of the Lord of Sipan.

The ICPNA’s are nonprofit binational centers, designed to teach English, promote exchanges and mutual understanding between Peru and the United States of America, and develop special artistic and cultural activities.

As one of the major sponsors of the conference, the Embassy invited two U.S. specialists to participate as key note speakers.  Roger Atwood is an acclaimed journalist, expert in trafficking of cultural patrimony and author of “Stealing History.”  Francisco Uviña is a Mexican-American architect and an authority in earth conservation who provides communities with technical expertise about earthen architecture technologies. 

Ambassador McKinley traveled to Chiclayo to open the Congress,celebrate the ICPNA’s anniversary and meet Peace Corps volunteers. Additionally, he accompanied the two speakers on site visits to the archaeological sites of Ventarrón and Huaca Rajada, Sípan.

Other key presenters in the Congress included renowned Peruvian archaeologists such as Santiago Uceda from the Huaca de la Luna; Luis Chero from Sipán, Bernarda Delgado from Túcume, Regulo Franco from El Brujo, among others.

Highlighting the event was a presentation on the newest discoveries at Ventarrón by Walter Alva, archeologist and director at the Museum Tumbes Reales de Sipan.  Within the last few months, they have discovered the remains of a temple, and a number of murals, dating back 4000 years- the oldest documented murals in America.  This discovery was only recently announced to the press.

In total, Atwood and Uviña visited 4 archaeological sites, discussing trafficking and conservation with the site directors and conservators and other local experts.

In addition to evaluating sites and attending the conference, Roger Atwood gave talks on Trafficking in Cultural Patrimony to 20 police officers, prosecutors, and 80 university students in both Chiclayo and Lima. 

Francisco Uviña gave a workshop on Earth Conservation with 50 personnel from Patrimony sites from across the country.

Before returning to the U.S. both specialists participated in a full day program in Lima on November 19. Roger Atwood gave a lecture on trafficking of antiquities, at a seminar on that topic at the National Museum in Lima Peru. The Director of the National Institute of Culture delivered opening remarks, and the President of the Supreme Court was on hand to underscore his support of this issue. More than 50 museum directors and staff, Peruvian customs officials and Peruvian National Police attended the presentation.

Francisco Uviña, gave a seminar on conservation of adobe structures topic at the Pachacamac Archaeological Site Museum.  The workshop was attended by over 50 archaeologists and conservators.