Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist January 2019 | Page 50

The people of Peru continue using techniques and
designs inspired by their ancestors, a mixture of
pre-Columbian lore with Asian, African and European
motifs, brought by the subsequent immigration.
As such, Peru has become one of the most exciting
destinations for archaeologists and history-afi cionados today.
From Caral, the oldest city in the Americas, to the mysterious
Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, to the spectacular gold, silver and
jewel encrusted artefacts uncovered in the tombs of Lord of
Sipan, Peru is like an ever-expanding, open-air museum. The
fact that Peru has 12 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage
List is a testament to this. Eight of them are cultural sites,
which also include magnifi cent works of colonial architecture;
two natural sites and two mixed sites. All of these are of great
signifi cance culturally, historically, archaeologically and
globally. They are proof that modern Peru owes as much to
its unique cultural heritage as to its rich geography.
The people of Peru continue using techniques and designs
inspired by their ancestors, a mixture of pre-Columbian lore
with Asian, African and European motifs, brought by the
subsequent immigration. This makes for a wide range of
cultural manifestations, whether it be in textile art, traditional
attires, Peruvian retablos (boxes with folk art) and paintings
inspired by century-old mestizo traditions.
“Peru’s Fabulous Treasures”, an exhibition hosted by
the National Museum, New Delhi, in collaboration with
the Embassy of Peru, was the fi rst of its kind in India.
Inaugurated past October 16th, it seeked to encompass all of
the manifestations of art and culture mentioned above, thus
taking the visitor on a journey through Peruvian history, from
its ancient roots to its modern manifestations.
The inauguration of the exhibition was graced by noted
archaeologist from Peru, Dr. Walter Alva, discoverer of the
tomb of the Lord of Sipan and scholar of the prehistoric
Moche culture in Peru. Since his work as supervisor of the
archaeological monuments of Lambayeque started in 1975
until today as the director of the Museum of the Royal
Tombs of Sipán, Dr. Alva remains one of the most important
references in the study of Moche culture. His work is admired
both in his home country and around the world.
For the fi rst time in India, eight replicas of the objects
found in the Royal Tomb of Sipan were on display alongside
pictures from the excavation that was carried out by Dr. Alva
at the archaeological site, including those of the stunning
artefacts that he unearthed during the process. The Sipan
section was followed by more than 100 pieces of pre-
Columbian cultures, from Vicus to Inca, including gorgeous
and intricate clay vessels and delicate pieces of metalwork.
50 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 1 • January 2019, Noida