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Global Heritage Fund Selects Marcahuamachuco for Second New Conservation and Community Development Project in Peru

June 08, 2011

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Global Heritage Fund Selects Marcahuamachuco for Second New Conservation and Community Development Project in Peru

After Two-Year Review of 30 Major Archaeological Sites, Monumental Pre-Incan Site in Northern Highlands Joins
GHF Chavín de Huántar

PALO ALTO, CA - June 8, 2011 - Global Heritage Fund (GHF), an international conservancy for endangered cultural heritage sites in developing countries, has approved its newest GHF Project at Marcahuamachuco, considered by many to be the “Machu Picchu of the North” and the “Jewel of La Libertad.” GHF will provide critical private sector matching funding and technical expertise to support scientific planning, GIS and mapping, archaeological conservation, community development and training of guides and artisans to promote sustainable preservation utilizing GHF’s Preservation by Design® methodology.

Marcahuamachuco is set atop the nexus of three mountain valleys at over 10,000 feet (3,200 meters), overlooking satellite sites and the rivers below.  Celebrated for its massive “castillo” (castle) and unique circular double-walled archaeological structures that predate the imperial expansion of the Incas and the Huari, Marcahuamachuco was constructed between 400-800 AD and became northern Peru’s most important political, economic and military center.

With excellent potential to be one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the northern highlands of Peru, Marcahuamachuco will provide a major focus for economic development in an area with few opportunities for local communities. Marcahuamachuco is considered endangered and faces accelerating threats as the ruins degrade from grazing of livestock, lack of conservation, weathering, plant growth and the continued unchecked effects of natural elements on the ancient structures.

At the invitation of the Government of Peru and the new Unidad Executivo de Marcahuamachuco (UEM) established for regional development of the site and its satellites, Marcahuamachuco becomes GHF’s second project in Peru, joining Chavín de Huántar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Huaraz in the high mountains of the Andes. GHF has been working in partnership with Stanford University’s Dr. John Rick and the Institute National de Cultura (INC) for the sustainable preservation of Chavín de Huántar since 2004. GHF’s multi-stage methodology, called Preservation by Design®, has ensured Chavín de Huántar has the highest-caliber science, planning and training for archaeological conservation and community development. GHF funded the cataloging and conservation of thousands of Chavín artifacts, which now are displayed in the new $4 million National Museum of Chavín.

GHF engages its Senior Advisory Board and other experts when investigating potential GHF Projects. To be selected as a GHF project, a site must be an endangered cultural heritage site (World Heritage Inscribed, Tentative List or Potential), be located in a developing country or region, offer a strong team of local and global partners, have in place or support the development of effective conservation planning, and demonstrate significant potential for sustainability in conservation with community involvement and development.

“After intensive investigations, we are pleased to announce Marcahuamachuco as our newest GHF Project,” said Jeff Morgan, Executive Director of GHF. “It is one of Peru’s most important archaeological treasures, and like so many of the country’s top heritage sites, it has suffered in the shadow of Machu Picchu for too long. As our work at Chavín de Huántar has shown, GHF understands not only the need for responsible planning and development, but the sustainable economic potential of cultural heritage sites—not just in Peru, but in developing countries all over the world. We see Marcahuamachuco meeting this potential, and we are excited to get to work in partnership with the Unidad Executivo Marcahuamachuco.”

About Global Heritage Fund
Global Heritage Fund (GHF) is an international conservancy whose mission is to protect, preserve and sustain the most significant and endangered cultural heritage sites in the developing world. GHF utilizes our 360-degree Preservation by Design® methodology of community-based planning, science, development and partnerships to enable long-term preservation and sustainability of global heritage sites. Since 2002, GHF has invested over $25 million and secured $20 million in co-funding for 18 global heritage sites to ensure their sustainable preservation and responsible development. For more information, visit http://www.globalheritagefund.org.