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• Melissa MASSAT

  I don’t have a blog (reading yours takes all my free time) but your readers will appreciate being informed of Conferences and Simposiums which are open to the general public and which not only permit them to learn more about Peru, but also to meet with experts and scholars. For information, Trujiilo is hosting the 2nd National Simposium on Rock Art in October. This little known aspect of Peru’s cultural past needs attention and protection (http://arqueologia.deperu.com/destruccion.html)The documented existence of almost 1000 Rock Art sites in Peru contrasts sharply with the lack of institutional and educational interest in this important evidence of man’s earliest cultural expression. Rock Art is a valuable communicative source for understanding man’s physical, social and spiritual response to his environment and, although it has received the growing attention of investigators and historians around the world in the past 20 years, the first meeting of Rock Art scholars was held in Peru only two years ago (EPAR, Lima – June 2004 http://rupestreweb.tripod.com/epar1bal.html), followed by the first national Symposium on Rock Art in Peru held in Cuzco (SINAR, November, 2004 http://rupestreweb.tripod.com/cusco.html).
  Chaotic urban, industrial and agricultural development, damaging environmental factors and, unfortunately, rising incidences of vandalism make the concerted development of Rock Art research methods more and more urgent in Peru as sites risk destruction. The 2nd Symposium on Rock Art will be held on October 27 – 31, 2006, in Trujillo, where the existence of an increasingly dynamic Department of Archaeology at the National University and the proximity of numerous Rock Art sites call for recognition and for systematic access to Rock Art findings on worldwide investigation and site management.
  As well as providing the latest research on Rock Art presented by specialists from South America and Europe, a fundamental objective of this 2nd Symposium is to incite authorities and the general public to be more aware of, more proud of and, consequently, more responsible for our rich, yet fragile, cultural legacy. The urgency of making Archaeological research more accessible to the general public is based on the growing need to valorize the wealth of diverse cultural identities which constitute the foundation for further cultural development and greater democratic participation in our rapidly changing world. The first step requires providing knowledge and instilling pride in national cultural heritage. This 2nd Symposium aims, therefore, at not only providing a forum for the development of Rock Art research amongst scholars, but also at providing a unique opportunity for educators to personally meet specialists and University students involved in Rock Art, archaeological conservation and cultural heritage. The general public will be invited to scientific and artistic exhibitions, films and conferences organized at the time of the Symposium and educational material will be distributed in a program designed to reach over 200 schools.
  With the conviction that Rock Art research reaches far beyond regional and academic limits as it contributes to a holistic understanding of man’s development, the organizers would like to extend an invitation to the 2nd Symposium on Rock Art to all scholars, educators and citizens interested in learning more about the past in order to ensure a better future.
  Organized visits to Rock Art sites will be permitted, although on a limited basis, and expert-guided tours of the well known sites of Chan Chan and the Huaca de la Luna will be arranged. Reductions for food and lodging will be offered to participants from outside of Trujillo.
  Inquiries and inscriptions should be addressed to: eventosarqueologia@yahoo.es
  Further information (in Spanish) may be obtained from the website: http://arqueologia.deperu.com/rupestre.html
  The 2nd national Symposium on Rock Art is being organized by the Instituto de Investigación Científica y Arqueológica in collaboration with the department of Archaeology-UNT and it is supported by the INC La Libertad, the Municipalidad de Trujillo, the Instituto Frances de Estudios Andinos, the Chamber of Commerce, and EL CULTURAL with the participation of the Alliance Française, the Universidad Privado del Norte and the BACKUS educational program.

  7 September 2006, 0:16 am

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