Peru, Summer 2017

The following images are a small selection of the nearly 12,000 photos I captured during my roughly eight weeks in Peru. I spent my time doing an engineering project at the archeological site of Chavin de Huantar. This pre-Incan site is home to an elaborate network of underground canals and galleries as well as fascinating stone architecture. Our project focused on improving the roofing system that helps protect the site from the elements.

Enjoy the gallery.

Week 1: Lima

We arrived in Lima for a few days of orientation. This included learning about archeological principles, meeting with Peruvian engineers and getting settled before our 11 hour bus ride through the mountains to Chavin. Below are a few photos from the rooftop of our hostel in the Miraflores district of Lima.

You can click on each image to view it larger. 

Week 1: Museo Larco, Lima

Week 1: On the Road to Chavin

During the 11 hour bus ride to Chavin we stopped along the Panamerican Highway to look at a large Huaca. It is an enormous mud-brick structure set atop hill. After this stop we began to climb into the Andes stopping after a few hours at a small town to sample some of fruits unique to this region of the world. After this, we continued climbing up to as high as 4,500 meters above sea level (approx. 14,800 ft) where it was very hard to breathe. Chavin sits at about 3,200 meters, so we would have to descend into the valley after crossing the Sierra Blanca.

Week 1: In Chavin

Here are some cinematic street shots in Chavin followed by a few photos of the Chavin Museum which houses, among other things, the large Cabezas Clavas or Tenon Heads which adorned the outer facades of some of the buildings at the archeological site. They are stored in the museum for safe keeping. The large stone monolith is a replica of some of the large stone structures found at the site, like the Lanzón. The Lanzón is a large (~3m tall) anthropomorphic stone monolith nestled deep underground in a Chavin gallery. It carries immense ritualistic and spiritual significance for Chavin is one of the main tourists draws of the site. We were granted the unique opportunity to enter the Lanzón chamber and get up close to this beautiful and intricate figure. In between these photos we also were invited to a Quechua ceremony in the main plaza of the site at night. There was music, dancing and great performances throughout the night. 

Week 2: Getting Settled in Chavin

After spending some time in Hostel Inca and visiting the site we thought it would be a good idea to hike up and get a birds-eye-view of the town of Chavin. One of the closest mountains is home to three crosses and offers a great vantage point over the town. It was about a 45 minute hike the first time we did it because we were not adjusted to the altitude, but after several times doing the hike, we got it down to about 15 minutes. In the first photo you will see the main plaza of Chavin. From there if you move down and to the left in the photo you will see the Hostel Inca, where we stayed for 7 weeks. The archeological site is out of the frame to the right in this first image just across a river. 

Also during this week, Andrew and I were able to stick a GoPro about 5 meters laterally underground into an air duct which led into a previously undiscovered gallery at the site. Called Gallery X for now, it precisely mirrors the layout and size of the Caracolas Gallery from which we sent the exploratory probe. By the end of the season the excavation was able to break into Gallery X and we'll soon know more about it contents and purpose. 

Week 3: Festival Comes to Chavin

Bands, constant fireworks and general chaos descended on Chavin for about a week and a half. Honoring the Virgin Carmen, the town and surrounding areas came together to celebrate. A three story tall fireworks tower was a highlight of the celebrations. I shot a series of portraits of some of the towns people during the downtime between the loud band music.

During the week, the team from CyArk joined us. They are a team from Oakland, Ca that specializes in the 3D mapping and general capturing archeological sites for posterity. They used drones, laser scanners and high resolution photography to document the site and build 3D models. On their first day, they showed us what this technology enables them to do via virtual reality. We were able to tour a site in Myanmar through Oculus Rift. 

Week 3: Bull Fighting...

This huge, purpose built stadium in Chavin was home to the once yearly bull fights. Timid matadors and a crazy firecracker induced fire in the stadium could not quell the energy in the stadium. We left about half way after seeing the inhumane treatment of the bulls and generally boring events transpiring. Unforgettable but traumatic.

Week 4: At Work

I shot this series of photos of people doing work at the site including the excavation of a few skeletons. 

Week 5: Huaraz and Hiking

We decided to take a weekend trip to Huaraz (3 hrs away by taxi) to explore the city, eat some great food, and hike. On Saturday, we took a further 2 hour drive to begin our hike to Laguna 69, a bright turquoise/blue glacial lake. The hike was extremely demanding and ended with us at 5,040 meters (~16,500 ft) above sea level! It was incredibly gorgeous and worth the 10 hour day hike. 

Week 6: The Work Continues

More images of us working on our projects, including using the Leica Total Station laser rangefinder to measure distances and mark locations of objects at the site. 

Week 6: Renato's Campfire

Renato invited us up to his mountain cabin to enjoy a campfire and some great views. Some of us slept over at the cabin and enjoyed a night under the stars. The next morning three of us hiked up to the mountain above the cross to get a view from the very top of the valley. We were greeted with a great view of the neighboring valley and the Sierra Blanca mountain range.

Week 7: Our last week in Chavin

Here are a few photos of the sensor team of Ryan and Jasmine with their low power sensor named Alejandro which tracks temperature and humidity over time in the underground galleries of Chavin. Following this is a few photos of Davis finishing up his and Alex's river project whose goal was to gain insights about the Mosna and Wachexa rivers. 

Week 8: Peru Bonus Round; Traveling with my Family

After retuning to Lima on the luxurious Movil Tours Coach, I met up with my family before boarding a flight from Lima to Cuzco. From Cuzco we would take an amazing 3 hour train journey to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. The food in Machu Picchu was meh, but we did get some great food mixed in there, albeit for a price. The buses you see below are part of the crazy transportation monopoly of Machu Picchu which has people lining up at 3 am to get a descent spot in line for passage up to the Machu Picchu Archeological site above town. After that you'll see my photos from Machu Picchu which we were lucky enough to get to early in the morning (6:45am after getting up at 3:45am) and stay for the entire day. 

Week 8: Back in Lima

We spent a few more days in Lima before boarding our flight back to the United States. Highlights of this time were the MATE museum and the pier overlooking the Pacific. 

End. 

Thanks for viewing. All images were captured using my Sony A7 with the two lenses I love, the Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 and Zeiss Batis f/1.8. Edited and culled in Adobe Lightroom CC. Prints of any of the photos seen here are available for purchase, simply fill out the contact me form on my website with the image you will like and we can arrange something for you!

All images copyright © Aubrey Kingston Photography 2017, All Rights Reserved