Andina

Peru: Forest fire damages cave paintings in Cusco

14:00 | Ollantaytambo (Cusco region), Sep. 11.

A team of experts will examine the possibility to restore the cave paintings affected by a forest fire in Miskipujio area, located in Cusco's Ollantaytambo district.

According to Fredy Escobar, director of the Decentralized Culture Directorate of Cusco (DDC), these paintings are situated in an inaccessible area —inside a small rocky cave in a deep ravine— that was impacted by the wildfire. 


"It was difficult to determine the extent of the damage due to the remote and uneven location; however, experts at our institution have been told to submit a technical and scientific proposal to restore these cave paintings, which are part of our historical memory," he said.

Faced with the increase of forest fires in several provinces at the regional level, a stationary order was issued in July so that the staff in charge of preserving and conserving archaeological parks like Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman, Chinchero, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, among others, remains vigilant and acts immediately if forest fires occur.

"This measure remains in force, and we are in constant coordination with heads of archaeological parks to act immediately upon occurrence of fires that may affect archaeological vestiges in Cusco region," he added.

(END) PHS/MAO/RMB/MVB

Published: 9/11/2019