In the Peruvian Andes, the recent conversion of Pre-Hispanic ruins into archaeological heritage sites in the name of scientific research and tourism exploitation has brought about a number of issues for the Quechua-speaking communities living with or near the ruins. The imposition of a new spatial and temporal order in the ruins, dictated by aggressive heritage conservation policies, has separated the villagers from a historic space by severing the past from the present as well as by triggering processes of displacement and exclusion, among other negative consequences.

This talk addresses the case of Chinchero, a highland town Northwest of Cuzco, the former capital of the Inca empire, on the way to the famous site of Machu Picchu. In addition to examining the changes occurred as a result of the implementation of hegemonic heritage values in the archaeological site, a case is made for the need to find alternative management models more attuned to indigenous notions of time and uses of space. In this regard, a tentative proposal for how things could be done differently by reincorporating traditional landscape practices into the site is put forward.

This seminar will be hosted both in person and online, please click the registration link for access to the Zoom details.

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