Maucallacta, Peru: information about the work carried out in the 2012 season

Abstract

The Maucallacta archaeological site is located at the foot of the Coropuna volcano’s southern slopes, in the Pampacolca district, the Castilla Province, the Arequipa department. These are the remnants of a temple complex related to the cult of the holy mountain, as Coropuna was regarded in pre-Spanish times. The complex is located at a height of 3750 m a.s.l. (zIÓłKoWSKI 2005; 2008). Work done by experts from the Centre for Pre- -Columbian Studies of the University of Warsaw commenced in 1997, under the aegis of the Condesuyos Archaeological Project led by Prof. Mariusz ziółkowski. The project encompasses the entire region. Since 2006, studies done at the Maucallacta site have been designated as a separate sub-project; directed by the author, together with the Peruvian architect and archaeologist Gonzalo Presbítero Rodriguez. From that point on, the studies covered not only archaeological research, but also a whole range of restoration and maintenance work (BUdA ET AL. 2010; WołoSzyN ET AL. 2010). They were also synchronised with the process of adapting the site to tourist traffic, as studies enter the next phase. The work and studies carried out in 2012 were part of pre-planned stages