Blog Archives

Crisis At Saqsaywaman Escalates

9/17/2016

Thanks for visiting my blog and keeping up with the progress on this ethnographic research project on the archaeological site in Peru called Saqsaywaman. A lot has happened since my last blog. I'm getting closer to going to Peru to continue my research to see if ethnographic film can play a role mediating a conflict on an archaeological site. Here's what's NEW:

Formal Request Received From The
Ministry of Culture in Peru

My contact at the Ministry is Jose Antonio Reynoso, the second from the left in this photo. We have been Facebook messaging (yes...social media has been our primary way to communicate up to now.) I asked him to send me a formal email outlining the status of the conflict at the Saqsaywaman site. I received his email (in Spanish) and used Google Translate to view his reply. You can view his entire letter to me at the bottom of this blog.

Current State of The Crisis on Site: When we first started our research and filming on the archaeological site back in 2010, the primary conflict was with three communities wanting to modernize, build houses, install infrastructure, roads, and enter the 21st Century on an active archaeological site. The update from the Jose Antonio at the Ministry makes it clear that the conflict has now expanded to the surrounding Cusco area, with the city expansion now encroaching on the archaeological park. This UNESCO World Heritage site is under threat now from many sides and groups. Our work to mediate the situation on the site is needed more now than every!

Maren's Status As A Research Associate At USC Renewed

Last week, my status as a Research Associate at the Center for Visual Anthropology at the University of Southern California (USC) was renewed by the Chair of the Department, Dr. Gary Seaman. This was a critical step as I can't work down at Saqsaywaman without a formal affiliation with a major U.S. university.

Maren Granted Access To The
Getty Research Institute Library

Those of you who have been down to Los Angeles to the Getty Museum complex know how amazing this institution is. The "Getty," as it is known, not only has world class museums, but the complex also houses the Getty Conservation Institute...and it's associated Research Library. (The library is located on the left in the photo above.)

I have been granted the use of the research library so I can continue to flesh out the research proposal, which I'm hoping will become part of my Ph.D thesis. Without going into too much detail (for another blog), I hope to partner with the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) to bring stakeholders at Saqsaywaman to the GCI to benefit from their expertise in archaeological site management. My ultimate goal would be to design and host an academic conference bringing these two diverse groups of people to together to come up with solutions for the Saqsaywaman site.

Donations Are Still Needed $1500 of $10,000 Raised

Many of you have contributed to my Peru Fundraising efforts and I so VERY much appreciate that. I have raised about $1,500 so far. I really need to raise almost $10,000 to get down to Peru with a small team of people. I am seeking grants and corporate funding as well. So, if you are inclined to donate, I'd appreciate it. And please feel free to share this blog and my website with anyone you think might be interested. Links are below...and you can share this blog as well.

Thanks so much for your time reading this blog...and for whatever help you can give me to continue my work in Peru.

Sincerely,
Maren Elwood
Visual Anthropologist
"Stone & People" Project
831 238 5503

GO FUND ME DONATION Here

You can send a check to:
Maren Elwood
11006 Aletta Avenue
Culver City, CA 90232

VENMO DONATION
Here

Stone & People Website

Letter to Maren Elwood From Jose Antonio Reynoso
Secretary at the Ministry of Culture/Saqsaywaman
(Translated from Spanish by Google Translate)

Maren,
Hello (and) how are you? First of all, excuse delay in answer, as you know the main problems in the Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman (PAS) communities and groups that inhabit it as the need for housing for themselves and their children is what makes the PAS is growing in housing.

Also the problem of PAS to be near Cusco which makes it vulnerable to urban growth of the city that no longer have to grow up and see the PAS as a place of urban expansion, and we are trying to stop this so that PAS all its green area and heritage within it there is enough (more than 66 archaeological sites registered) is maintained, we are working with the regional government of Cusco for the PAS is referred to as "lungs of Cusco". We are also trying to see how to acquire land from private owners, as you know the state owns only 5% of the 2,997 hectares that have the PAS.

Cusco is growing not only in terms of population but also is increasing tourism and thus various needs including more tourist offers, need for more accommodation generated more sites recreation (horseback riding, motorcycling, mountain biking, climbing rock and others that are being generated within the PAS.)

If you want more information and want to know what topics to be more explicit let me know because I would like to continue working on the project which had begun in 2010.

Regards,
Jose Antonio Reynoso

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Are You Taking The Airstream To Peru?

9/2/2016

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So many people have asked me if I'm taking my Airstream to Peru. So, I decided to explore the pros and cons and what would be involved in actually taking my Classic Airstream 325 RV to Saqsaywaman.

For those of you who don't know me, I'm known as the Airstream Anthropologist because I use my Airstream to conduct research studies around the United States. Now, I'm getting ready to continue research on a site in Peru called Saqsaywaman. For more info about this study, go to my Stone & People webpage.

Pros: First of all, the Airstream is totally equipped as my mobile media lab. So, it would be a great to transport my office complete with all the tech needed to complete my ethnographic research on the Saqsaywaman site. I could upload project video to the internet via satellite. I could edit ethnographic film in-situ. I could entertain both community members and the Ministry of Culture by making Peruvian delights (like beef heart) in my gourmet kitchen. We could sit outside under the stars at night and, following in Ansel Adams's footsteps, setup a GoPro atop the Airstream to capture timelapse photography of the sun and moon rising above what used to be the Epicenter of the Inca Empire.

Another pro would be the fact that the Airstream has four solar panels, so I could live off the grid and keep my carbon footprint on the site to a minimum. The oversized water and holding tanks would also mean I could stay in-situ for long periods of time.

Other benefits would include having all my equipment in one safe environment protected by my
Ring system that alerts me on my phone when someone is near the Airstream or ringing my door bell.

Personally, I'd love to have the Airstream down at Saqsaywaman. It's been my home since I went back to school in 2011 at USC...and I love living in it. It fits my mobile lifestyle as the Airstream Anthropologist.

Getting The Airstream To Saqsaywaman

LOGISTICS: Getting my 1989 Airstream 325 to Saqsaywaman, Peru would involve some pretty long distances and test the vehicle's ability to climb the over 12,000' altitude gain. But, given that the Airstream has already been all across the United States, let's examine what would be involved in getting it to Peru.

There is precedence for this type of crazy endeavor by a filmmaker. Werner Herzog, during his ill-fated epic filming of Fitzcarraldo (the story of a man who dragged a steamship over a mountain and through the Peruvian Jungle), ran into amazing difficulties trying to recreate this story for film. If you want to read about the adventure Werner Herzog encountered, this article by Nick Thorpe "Herzog's Un-filmable Nightmare" is a good read.

Step #1) Vehicle Cargo Shipping By Boat: Yes, you can actually do this. I contacted a company based out of the Los Angeles Harbor and submitted my request (online) to ship my Airstream from LA to Lima, Peru. Cost estimate that I received back: $2700 + Insurance and duties.

So, the only thing I have to worry about is that someone on the boat will decide to take up residence in the Airstream and do damage/take parts while on the journey. Then there is the problem of rodents who've been known to eat everything including hoses and fan belts...let alone food (which I'd be sure isn't on board.)

Step #2) Permits & Licenses: I'd have to figure out what type of RV permits would be needed in Peru, as well as license the Airstream as a Peruvian vehicle. I'd also need to get permission for the Airstream to be parked somewhere on the Saqsaywaman archaeological park. Which, given that it's hard enough just to get an American ethnographic research/film crew on the site, this might be a BIG deal. Then again, they might like the publicity that would be generated by having the Airstream Anthropologist embedded on a UNESCO World Heritage site. Let's assume I will be granted a "Convenio" for the Airstream.

Step #3) Finding A Driver/Mechanic & Extra Parts: I would need to hire at least one great driver, who also has mechanical expertise with Airstream RVs. Why? Because, we are going to break down...if for no other reason than to make a great story. And, it's not like we are going to find an Airstream dealership with a parts department along the way. So, we will have to take some basic parts and lots of tools...which believe it or not, I have already on board.

Step #4) Preparations In Lima & Provisions: We'd need to stock up the Airstream after it's long boat ride, which would include filling the propane tank, getting fresh water into the holding tank, and making sure we have enough food for the trip from Lima to Cuzco. We'd need to give it a once over for the big drive and make sure all systems are ready to climb the Andes.

Step #4) Driving From Lima to Saqsaywaman: This drive, pictured below, is 931 miles if the roads indicated are available...which they probably won't be. So, let's just use this route and miles as a guesstimate. Google Maps estimates the trip to take 19 hours...Ha! Let's expect a week.

Fuel Expenses: Well, the Airstream currently gets a whopping 11 miles per gallon of regular gas in the US. (For those of you who don't own an RV...that's VERY good.) Given the extreme altitude gain, let's reduce the miles per gallon to 9...probably over estimating, but let's figure the Airstream is going to putt along slowly to get maximum mileage.

104 Gallons Of Fuel Needed: So, if the trip is 931 miles % 9 miles per gallons = 104 gallons of fuel will be needed.

$594.88 Will Be Cost of Fuel: Figuring out gas prices involves a currency exchange. The current gas price for regular gas in Lima is $4.84/gallon in Sols...the currency in Peru. In US dollars, the rate is $5.72/gallon...so 931 miles x $5.72 = $594.88 for gas. And...believe it or not, the Airstream has an 80 gallon gas tank...so, we could make it there on a tank and a half of gas with some to spare (if everything goes as planned...which it won't). What a vehicle!!

Weighing The Pros/Cons of Taking The Airstream To Peru

Overall, the costs of getting the Airstream to Peru might actually be worth it given the savings that would result from not having to rent a location for me and my crew. Last time we went down, it cost me almost $4K just for housing. And, we'd save money by being able to make our own meals in the Airstream.

Add to that the novelty and coolness factor of having an Airstream on an active archaeological dig where the researcher and her team live and work out of it....Wow! I'm sure there are Airstreams that have been used in the US on archaeological digs. But, I believe this would be the first time an Airstream would be used in Peru on an active dig high up in the Andes.

TOTAL COST ESTIMATE TO GET THE AIRSTREAM TO SAQSAYWAMAN $6,000 US

In conclusion, I think I'm going to give it a go! Then, the only thing I have to think about next is how I'm going to get it back...or does the Airstream stay permanently in Peru...and thus becoming the base of operation for the Stone & People project?

What do you think? Let me know...and, of course, make a donation if you can...definitely going to need it now.

Humorously submitted,

Maren Elwood
The Airstream Anthropologist
Join me on my company social networks below or on my
Airstream Anthropologist Facebook Page

Go Fund Me Donation

You can also mail a donation to: 11006 Aletta Avenue Culver City, CA 90232

Venmo Donation

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Returning To Saqsaywaman in 2019

Crisis At Saqsaywaman Escalates

Formal Request Received From The
Ministry of Culture in Peru

Maren's Status As A Research Associate At USC Renewed

Maren Granted Access To The
Getty Research Institute Library

Donations Are Still Needed $1500 of $10,000 Raised

Letter to Maren Elwood From Jose Antonio Reynoso
Secretary at the Ministry of Culture/Saqsaywaman
(Translated from Spanish by Google Translate)

Are You Taking The Airstream To Peru?

Getting The Airstream To Saqsaywaman

Weighing The Pros/Cons of Taking The Airstream To Peru

Subscribe to stay in touch with Maren and her project in Peru.

MAREN ELWOOD

Archives

Categories

Returning To Saqsaywaman in 2019

Crisis At Saqsaywaman Escalates

Formal Request Received From The Ministry of Culture in Peru

Maren's Status As A Research Associate At USC Renewed

Maren Granted Access To The Getty Research Institute Library

Donations Are Still Needed $1500 of $10,000 Raised

Letter to Maren Elwood From Jose Antonio ReynosoSecretary at the Ministry of Culture/Saqsaywaman(Translated from Spanish by Google Translate)

Are You Taking The Airstream To Peru?

Getting The Airstream To Saqsaywaman

Weighing The Pros/Cons of Taking The Airstream To Peru

Subscribe to stay in touch with Maren and her project in Peru.

MAREN ELWOOD

Archives

Categories

Formal Request Received From The
Ministry of Culture in Peru

Maren Granted Access To The
Getty Research Institute Library

Letter to Maren Elwood From Jose Antonio Reynoso
Secretary at the Ministry of Culture/Saqsaywaman
(Translated from Spanish by Google Translate)