Ayudemos a divulgar esta noticia, quisas podemos evitar que de nueco pase algo como lo ocurrido en Machupichu y los artefactos que hoy en dia estan en Yale University.
Lorenzo

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Hector Santillan <hsantillan@ucnj.org>
Date: Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Subject: FW: Emailing: Caral Civilization Peru Open Letter from Ruth Shady.htm

Estoy trabajando, con el apoyo de Ayllu Community Center de la ciudad de Elizabeth, y las Organizaciones Peruanas del Condado de Union (Peruvian Organizations of Union County) una exibicion fotografica sobre la Cultura Caral, acompañada con mi coleccion de huacos mochica en la Biblioteca Publica de esta ciudad de Elizabeth, ademas de una exposicion virtual del Señor de Sipan. En la busqueda de recientes descubrimientos, encontre esta carta abierta de la arqueologa Ruth Shady, a cargo del Proyecto Caral Supe, a la comunidad de arqueologos en la que denuncia a los arqueologos norteamericanos Jonathan Haas y Winifred Creamer con la complicidad, segun sus alegatos, del arqueologo peruano Ivaro Ruiz Rubio. Este problema se inicio (la carta abierta fecha Enero 6 del 2005) algunos años antes y continuaba a la fecha indicada y radica en la acusacion a los arqueologos norteamericanos de pretender apoderarse del descubrimiento publicitando en la comunidad cientifica el descubrimiento de tal maravilla arqueologica como propia, ignorando al equipo de la doctora Shady que contaba, o cuenta con el apoyo de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.

Al tener esta denuncia fecha del 2005, trate de encontrar mayor informacion pero no pude encontrarla.

Alguien conoce algo de esto? Se aclaro ya el problema y se tomo una determinacion al respecto, como la sancion que solicita la Dra. Shady?
De todas maneras seguire buscando informacion.
Hector Santillan

-----Original Message-----
From: Hector Santillan <hsantillan@ucnj.org>
To: hesamen40@aol.com
Sent: Thu, Aug 6, 2009 1:15 pm
Subject: Emailing: Caral Civilization Peru Open Letter from Ruth Shady.htm

Caral Civilization Peru

The origins of civilization in Peru.

Main | Letter from Ruth Shady to INC »

January 06, 2005

Open Letter from Ruth Shady

Lima, January 5, 2005

Open Letter from Ruth Shady

I am writing to inform you about the misappropriation of the results of the research on the origins of civilization in Peru which the Special Archaeological Project Caral-Supe / INC PEACS/INC has obtained during a decade of work in Caral and the Supe Valley, misappropriation effected by two North American archaeologists, the husband-and-wife team Jonathan Haas and Winifred Creamer, with the complicity of a Peruvian archaeologist, lvaro Ruiz Rubio. This conduct began some years ago and continues now with greater intensity, possibly because there has been no legal claim on our part or censure by our countrys authorities or institutions.

THE FACTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. History of our research:
In 1994 a team of archaeologists led by the undersigned began studies in the Supe Valley. We identified 18 settlements with monumental and domestic architecture, located between the coast and the first 40 kilometers of the valley. Caral was one of these, located at the beginning of the intermediate valley.

In 1996 we started excavating in Caral and, based on the results, we proved the existence of extensive settlements with monumental and residential architecture in the valley, completely devoid of ceramic association and therefore belonging to the Late Archaic period (3000 1800 B.C.).

The work that had been done prior to this was limited to the coast (Feldman in spero in 1980) or had not evaluated the age or the social, cultural and political importance of this occupation (cases Williams & Merino in 1979 or Zechenter in 1988).

Our results have been published continuously from 1997 to date (see Bibliography below) in academic media and also through museographic exhibitions and in the Peruvian press.

Intervention of Haas Creamer:
With reference to the presence in Peru of Haas and Creamer, I should explain that I met them when I was invited to Chicago in 1999 for a meeting about the El Nio Phenomenon. I gave a presentation about Caral, and they showed interest and announced that they would travel to Peru the following year. In 2000, they did, indeed, come to Lima, and I took them to see Caral, where they stayed for one weekend. At that time our research in the Supe Valley already had six years of uninterrupted work and several publications. As I had done previously with colleagues Betty Meggers of the Smithsonian Institution and Henning Bischof of the Mannheim Museum in Germany, I committed Haas and Creamer to negotiating in their respective institutions the payment for 12 samples to be dated by radiocarbon 14. In December 2000, Haas told me by telephone that they had the results and that these indicated that Caral was as old as I had proposed. This is when he suggested to me that I publish the carbon datings in Science, together with him and his wife so that it would subsequently be easier to obtain funds for Caral by submitting a binational project in the United States. In this way Caral would have the economic resources it had lacked until then. I accepted this proposal, even though Haas and Creamer had never excavated in Caral.

Incorrect claims and attributions:
What went wrong was that, following the publication in Science, in April 2001, the web site of the Field Museum, where Haas works, attributed to its researchers the fixing of the date and importance of the oldest city in the Americas (link, see the source and date); and, also, the web site of the University of Illinois, where Creamer works, highlighted the discovery of the oldest civilization in the Americas by its professor Creamer. Because of these lies and expressions of misconduct, that did not give credits to my actual investigation neither mention to the San Marcos National Major University where it belonged nor the country, we decided not to go into the project with Haas and Creamer.

However, they have created a parallel research program in Barranca, in the north central area, where we work, in the next valleys to Supe, in Pativilca and Fortaleza, called Norte Chico, which they have been carrying out since 2002, and since then they have been taking advantage of the image of Caral and our results on the oldest civilization in the Americas, as indicated by the following documents:

In 2004, the magazine American Way published by the airline American Airlines (link), says that the investigations in Caral are being assisted by the Chicago Field Museum (where Jonathan Haas works) with researchers from the University of Northern Illinois (where his wife, Winifred Creamer, works).

The document defended by National Science Foundation before the House of Representatives of the United States to justify its budget includes as an argument the economic support it has provided for research on the origins of civilization by Winifred Creamer and Jonathan Haas, who have discovered a complex society on the Peruvian coast, which predates other forms of civilization in the Western Hemisphere and mentions Caral as the oldest city in the new world (link). The truth is that neither Creamer nor Haas has ever worked in Caral, and neither they nor their institutions have given a single dollar to the Caral Project.

Recently Haas and Creamer have published an article in Nature magazine, volume 432 of December 2004, once more claiming to have discovered that the development of social complexity in Peru dates back to the Late Archaic, between 3000 and 1800 B.C., and that this process occurred in the Norte Chico in agricultural and fishing societies. They make no reference in the text to the fact that this and other proposals had already been indicated by us based on the work in Caral-Supe, a valley in the north-central area or Norte Chico, apart from some bibliographic notes; as my U.S. colleague Michael Moseley points out: Haas and his wife, with a parallel project that is better publicized in the mass media of the United States, are gaining international credit for the work, data, and interpretations that you have previously made public in Peru.

It is obvious that Haas and Creamer intend to ignore the fact that a team of Peruvian archaeologists led by the undersigned, for a decade, has been researching into the origins of civilization on the north-central coast or Norte Chico, in the Supe Valley; and that it was we who posited the north-central area as the seat of the oldest civilization of the Americas. In addition to this, Haas and Creamer make use of our results, previously published in books, leaflets and numerous articles, without citing their sources (see bibliography below and link).

With this behavior Haas and Creamer are violating not only my intellectual rights as an archaeologist but also the rights of a Peruvian research project whose authorship they intend to expropriate.

4. Situation of the Special Archaeological Project Caral-Supe:
From 1994 to 1999 the Caral Archaeological Project was dedicated to archaeological research, in order to identify first the early settlements of the Supe Valley, and subsequently Caral. The Project had the economic support of the National Geographic Society and of the local Municipalities of Supe and Barranca.

From 1999 to 2002 the Caral Archaeological Project continued with archaeological research in Caral, with the support of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.

From 2003 to date the Caral Archaeological Project has had the status of Executing Unit of the National Institute of Culture, and as such it receives funds from the Peruvian State to continue with its work: that is, not only the archaeological research, but also the conservation and restoration of Carals monuments, and preparation of the site for tourist services.

Archaeological investigations are also being made in the other settlements in the valley, such as Chupacigarro, Miraya, and Lurihuasi; and a project has been submitted to National Geographic Society and the Heinz Foundation to carry out excavations in spero, the settlement on the coast. With the parallel work in these other settlements we seek to compare results in order to gain a better understanding of the social system that was formed at the dawn of civilization, between 3000 and 1800 B.C.; as well as to assess the interpretations that we have already put forward about the economic, social, political, and religious organization of Caral, Supe, and the north-central region of Peru.

Today, visitors to Caral are able to appreciate the complexity of the public and residential architecture; the facades of eight public pyramidal buildings have been consolidated, as well as those of six domestic units, in four sectors of the city; there are set circuits for visits with appropriate information displayed in Spanish and English on panels at each point of interest; illustrated booklets are sold in Spanish and English (44 pages each); and local guides have been especially trained by us to provide tourists with this service. Young archaeologists from Peru and abroad are also being trained in Caral.

In addition, a Master Plan has been drawn up to promote integral and sustainable socioeconomic development in the area, in an effort to improve the living conditions of the local inhabitants. Thus, in 2005, an Agroecology Project will start operating, with the economic support of the Americas Fund and the participation of the Institute for Development and the Environment.

Since this is a case of flagrant lack of professional and intellectual ethics, we have applied to Perus National Institute of Culture (see attached document) for this institution to sanction Haas and Creamer for presenting as their own the results of the research of others. In addition, I am requesting that the pertinent clarification be made to the Chicago Field Museum, Northern Illinois University, National Science Foundation, National Geographic Society, the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies, and the California Community.

In the words of my colleague Dr. Michael Moseley of the Department of Anthropology of the University of Florida: Unfortunately, Haas et al, as newcomers with parallel data, are gaining international credit for work, data, and interpretations that you pioneered. Unfortunately, what is happening here in general is that Haas with his considerable resources has launched a massive Public Relations Campaign in the English press and journals to claim the basics of your discoveries as his own. This is Academic Imperialism of the first order!. Another colleague, Dr. Betty Meggers of the Smithsonian Institution, says: I have just seen the article by Haas in Nature and am shocked at his failure to acknowledge your priority in the interpretations he provides. I have not seen the Washington Post, but there is apparently an article on this discovery, which quotes him as attributing the preceramic complexity to reciprocity between cotton from the inland and fish from the shore as if it were his idea. He is confirming your interpretations and to give the impression that they are new is dishonest. You dont deserve this kind of treatment. Before doing so, re-read the Nature article and noticed that the references have nothing to do with the text. This is an astonishing case that verges on plagiarism.

We are not opposed to research by foreign archaeologists in Peru, but this should be carried out ethically and with respect for the intellectual rights of Peruvian professionals and the preservation of the countrys cultural heritage.

Trusting that you will be able to give us the support we require, I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Ruth Shady Sols
HEAD
Special Archaeological Project Caral-Supe
link
caral@terra.com.pe
Jr. De La Unin 1040, 3er piso, Lima 1 Per
Telefax 00 511 3325380

BIBLIOGRAFÍA SOBRE CARAL PREPARADA POR EL PROYECTO ARQUEOLÓGICO CARAL-SUPE:

SHADY, Ruth
2004 La ciudad del fuego sagrado. Lima.

SHADY, Ruth
2004 The Foundations of Andean Civilization: Papers in Honor of Michael E. Moseley. Joyce Marcus, Charles Stanish and Patrick Ryan Williams, eds. (en imprenta).

SHADY, Ruth
2004 Caral-Supe, la civilización más antigua de Perú y de América. En: Andean Archaeology III: North and South. William H. Isbell y Helaine Silverman, eds. (en imprenta).

SHADY, Ruth
2004 Caral-Supe, Perú: The oldest civilization in the Americas. Proyecto Especial Arqueológico Caral-Supe, Lima, 41 pp.

SHADY, Ruth y Carlos LEYVA, eds.
2003 La ciudad sagrada de Caral-Supe. Los orígenes de la civilización andina y la formación del Estado prístino en el antiguo Perú. Proyecto Especial Arqueológico Caral-Supe, Lima, 342 pp.

SHADY, Ruth
2003 Caral-Supe, la civilización más antigua de América. Proyecto Especial Arqueológico Caral-Supe, Lima, 42 pp.

SHADY, Ruth
2002 Caral-Supe La Civilización más antigua del Perú y América. En: Revista Múltiple Cultura Peruana. año 2002, nro. 3, pp. 60-68.

SHADY, Ruth
2002 Caral, Supe: La civilización más antigua de América. En: Revista del Instituto de Investigaciones Histórico Sociales, año VI, nro. 9, Lima, pp. 51-81.

SHADY, Ruth
2001 Caral, la Ciudadela más Antigua de América. En: Revista Rumbos, año V, nro. 29, Lima, pp. 72-76.

SHADY, Ruth, Pedro NOVOA y Dolores BUITRÓN
2001 Artefactos simbólicos de Caral-Supe y su importancia en la tradición cultural andina. En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 4, n 4, Lima, pp. 87-94.

SHADY, Ruth
2001 Caral: La primera ciudad del nuevo mundo. En: Revista Copé, vol. XI - N 28, Lima, pp. 1-6

SHADY, Ruth, Jonathan HAAS y Winifred CREAMER
2001 Dating Caral, a Preceramic Site in the Supe Valley on the Central Coast of Peru. En: SCIENCE, vol 292: 723-726.

SHADY, Ruth
2001 La Ciudad Sagrada de Caral-Supe y los Orígenes de la Civilización Andina. Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, 48 pp.

SHADY, Ruth
2001 Caral-Supe y la Costa Norcentral del Perú: La cuna de la civilización y la formación del estado prístino. En: Historia de la cultura peruana I. Fondo Editorial del Congreso del Perú. Lima, pp. 45-87.

SHADY, Ruth y Marco MACHACUAY
2000 El Altar del Fuego Sagrado del Templo Mayor de la Ciudad Sagrada de Caral-Supe. En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 3, n 12, Lima, pp. 2-18.

SHADY, Ruth, Martha PRADO, Carlos LEYVA, Jorge MORENO, Carlos JIMENEZ y Celso LLIMPE
2000 Las Flautas de Caral-Supe: Aproximaciones al Estudio Acústico-Arqueológico del Conjunto de Flautas más Antiguo de América. En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 3, n 11, Lima, pp. 2-9.

SHADY, Ruth, Camilo DOLORIER, Fanny MONTESINOS y Lyda CASAS
2000 Los Orígenes de la Civilización en el Perú: el área Norcentral y el valle de Supe durante el Arcaico Tardío. En Revista Arqueología y Sociedad. UNMSM, Lima, N 13, pp. 13-48.

SHADY, Ruth
2000 Sustento Socioeconómico del Estado Prístino de Supe Perú: Las evidencias de Caral - Supe. En Revista Arqueología y Sociedad. UNMSM. Lima, N 13, pp. 49-66.

SHADY, Ruth, Marco MACHACUAY y Rocío ARAMBURÚ
2000 La Plaza Circular del Templo Mayor de Caral: Su presencia en Supe y en el área Norcentral del Perú. En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 3, n 8, Lima, pp. 2-25.

SHADY, Ruth y Miriam GONZÁLEZ
2000 Una Tumba Circular Profanada de la Ciudad Sagrada de Caral-Supe. En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 3, n5, Lima, pp. 2-9.

SHADY, Ruth, Marco MACHACUAY y Sonia LÓPEZ
2000 Recuperando La Historia del Altar del Fuego Sagrado. En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología. UNMSM. Lima, año 3, N 4 pp 2 - 19.

SHADY, Ruth
2000 Práctica Mortuoria de la Sociedad de Caral - Supe, durante el Arcaico Tardío. En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 3, N 3, Lima, pp. 2-15.

2000 Los orígenes de la Civilización y la Formación del Estado en el Perú. Las evidencias arqueológicas de Caral - Supe (Segunda Parte). En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 3, n 2, Lima, pp. 2-7.

SHADY, Ruth, Marco MACHACUAY y Rocío ARAMBURÚ
2000 Un Geoglifo de Estilo Sechín en el valle de Supe. En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 3, n 1, Lima, pp. 2-11.

SHADY, Ruth
1999 Los Orígenes de la Civilización y la Formación del Estado en el Perú: Las evidencias arqueológicas de Caral-Supe. (Primera Parte). En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 2, n 12, Lima, pp. 2-4.

SHADY, Ruth
1999 El Sustento Económico del Surgimiento de la Civilización en el Perú. En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 2, n 11, Lima, pp. 2-4.

SHADY, Ruth
1999 Flautas de Caral: El conjunto musical ms antiguo de Amrica. En Boletn del Museo de Arqueologa y Antropologa de la UNMSM, ao 2, n 10, Lima, pp. 4-5.

SHADY, Ruth
1999 La Religión como una forma de cohesión social y manejo político en los albores de la civilización en el Perú. En Boletín del Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la UNMSM, año 2, n 9, Lima, pp. 13-15.

SHADY, Ruth y Sonia LPEZ
1999 Ritual de Enterramiento de un Recinto en el Sector Residencial A.
En Caral-Supe. En: Boletín de Arqueología PUCP, No.3: 187-212.

SHADY, Ruth
1999 La Ciudad Sagrada de Caral-Supe. Museo de Arqueologa y Antropologa UNMSM. Lima, 14 pp.

SHADY, Ruth
1997 Caral. La Cité Ensevelie, En: Revista Archéologie, N 340, pags. 58-65, Francia.

1997 La Ciudad Sagrada de Caral - Supe en los Albores de la Civilización en el Perú. Fondo Editorial, UNMSM, 75 pags.

SHADY, Ruth
1995 La Neolitización en Los Andes Centrales y los Orígenes del Sedentarismo, la Domesticación y la Distinción Social. En: Saguntum, Revista del Departamento de Prehistoria y Arqueología, N 28, Universidad de Valencia, Espaa.

The following document is attached:
Copy of official communication No. 411-2004/INC-UE.003-J, to the National Director of the INC.

January 06, 2005 | Permalink

Comments

Information of Caral was recorded usingcords and knots;whith civilization, the useof the quipu came into being.

Cesar Alfredo Guardia Cebrian

Posted by: César Alfredo Guardia Cebrian | July 16, 2009 at 07:22 PM

I am doing a project on ancient civilizations.One of the civilizations I am working on is Caral Supe Valley. I am having trouble finding information on pigments and wall paintings. If you have any information you could spare, I would be very greatful if you shared it with me.

Sincerly,
Ross 5th grade student

Posted by: maeve | May 22, 2009 at 12:30 PM

Por mas de una decada he seguido los grandiosos trabajos de Ruth Shady en CARAL. Es una verguenza que existan personas como Haas y Creamer, con sus conductas tan bajas y antiprofesionales. Espero se les castigue a ellos y sus Companias como se lo merecen.
Sinceramente.

Posted by: H.F.Boggiano | June 25, 2008 at 04:03 PM

I am very sorry for the despicable behavior of Haas and Creamer. Their employers AND their professional organizations should take action against them for their distinctly unprofessional behavior. Below I will try to translate into Spanish.

Lamento mucho el comportamiento despreciable de Haas y Creamer. Sus empleadores Y sus organizaciones profesionales deberían tomar medidas contra ellos para su comportamiento claramente antiprofesional.

Posted by: Gary L. Kaake | April 09, 2008 at 04:32 PM

Soy maestro del colegio secundario. In preparar el curriculo de un curso de Estudios Latinoamericanos, me alegré enterrarme de esta civilización.
La controversia acerca de los antropólogos norteamericanos me pone triste. Espero que los que merecen el crédito lo reciban.
Sin embargo, estoy buscando un sitio o artículo en inglés con información sobre el sitio para usar con mis alumnos.
Mi correo electrónico es un4spec@gmail.com.
Mil gracias for cualquier ayudo.

Posted by: John Davis Pereira | February 19, 2008 at 07:02 PM

A graduate school case study? Make it a documentary!

Posted by: Travel Guy | January 27, 2008 at 05:21 PM

excellent information, please provided more info to the reader out there.

Posted by: heidi espinal | January 25, 2007 at 08:50 PM

I want to know about the book made by imterbamk and if u can send me a huacos and a book of caral.thank you .

Posted by: Devon | January 29, 2006 at 02:01 PM

I have seen the National Geopgraphic presentation on Caral several times. I have to say, I thought that Haas Creamer were superfluous and personally would have preffered to see more about Dr. Shady and her work instead of his personal comments.For instance the program did not note the presence of the other cities though it seemed clear enough that Caral could not have been a trading city unless there were others as well. It was apparent to me, that he was not working on the site. I am so sorry that Americans have once again 'stepped in it' in an International situation. Perhaps the Americans hoped to be 'invited' into the Project. I am glad they were not. Whatever the excuse, it's time for a proper apology and removal from their adjacent site. And our government owes the Peruvian Government an apology as well. Although my sentiments are at this point--- what else is new? Speaking as an American, we need to start thinking of ourselves as partners in the Global community rather than as its watch dogs no matter what area of study or anything else one is addressing. We are a young nation with plenty to learn from the rest of the world, if we would only listen.
Donna Crouthamel

Posted by: D. Crouthamel | February 04, 2005 at 11:18 AM

Sobre comunicado PANC

Un pequeño comentario para que reflexionen: lamentablemente ahí en Perú es dificil
tener acceso a las revistas Science o Nature. Si hubieran leido bien el articulo de
Haas et al. (lo enviaron en pdf. atraves de esta lista) y el comentario de Charles Mann (lo envie en pdf. atraves de esta lista también), se hubieran dado cuenta que no había
ningún robo intelectual ni nada. No conozco al Dr. Haas, pero me parece que el alboroto
causado por el "robo intelectual" es solo una impotencia por no haber realizado a tiempo
las respectivas publicaciones o no tener una mejor visión de estas. Entonces ahora una posbilidad para el publico de Arqueología sería que ambos equipos compartan sus datos para el mejor conocimiento de la historia en el denominado Norte Chico y lo publican tanto a nivel nacional e internacional para que puedan tener acceso todos, o también esta lista puede ser un excelente medio para difundir todos los que investigan Arqueología de Perú, y asi difundir sus resultados, con lo cual estudiantes, profesionales y publico interesado puede estar al corriente de todo y rapido. Me gustaría conocer el laboratorio de Palinologia montado en la U. Cayetano Heredia por Haas y su equipo, porque este laboratorio ayudara mucho a conocer aspectos paleoecológicos muy importantes de los yacimientos arqueológicos andinos. Felicitaciones! Saludos.

Víctor F. Vásquez Sánchez (Biólogo)
Laboratorio de Zooarqueología
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
28049 Madrid-España

Posted by: victor vasquez | January 14, 2005 at 07:04 PM

Al parecer existe un poco de confusion sobre el descubrimiento de Caral o (previos a los trabajos de la Dra Shady) Chupacigarro Grande como era conocido el sitio por encontrarse dentro de la Hacienda Chupacigarro.
El primer investigador que visito el sitio y publico sobre este fue Paul Kosok, su obra de 1965 "Life and Water in Ancient Peru" (Long Island University Press, New York). En esta publicacion se da buena cuenta de sus hallazgos en el valle de Supe, con fotos aereas incluidas. Es importante acotar que los trabajos publicados en 1965 fueron realizados en 1948! A continuacion un pequeño extracto de un documento preparado por el que suscribe para el Plan Maestro del Valle de Supe, en donde estoy seguro se aclara las cosas respecto a este tema.

"En 1948 Paul Kosok, de la Universidad de Long Island, inicia una investigación del sistema de riego antiguo en el Antiguo Perú. En su obra "Life, Land and Water in Ancient Peru" nos presenta los resultados de dos años de investigación en la costa peruana. Sin duda el gran aporte de Kosok a la arqueología peruana fue el empleo de fotografías aéreas que le permitieron ubicar una gran cantidad de sitios arqueológicos. Valiéndose de la fotografía aéreas del Servicio Aerofotográfico Nacional y de la expedición Shippee-Johnson, Kosok recorrió la costa peruana registrando sitios de diversa naturaleza. Sin duda su obra va mas allá del estudio de los antiguos sistemas de riego prehispánico. La publicación representa un gran registro de sitios de la costa, muchos de los cuales ya han desaparecido.

Cuando se inició el estudio de las fotografías del valle de Supe inmediatamente Kosok se percato de la gran cantidad de sitios arqueológicos (ibid: 219). Kosok, sobretodo, destaca el valle medio de Supe y se sorprende, que hasta ese momento, no haya sido considerado de importancia arqueológica. Como él mismo refiere en su publicación: "Un día mientras nos encontrábamos trabajando en Lima con las fotos aéreas de esta parte del valle [se refiere al valle medio de Supe], Michael emocionado corrió hacia mi mesa y exclamó: Mira estas ruinas tan peculiares que he encontrado. ¡Si, la formas de estas ruinas son muy particulares! No se parecen en nada a los cientos de sitios que hemos ubicado anteriormente en las fotos aéreas". (Kosok, 1965: 219, la traducción es nuestra).

El sitio arqueológico al que Kosok y su asistente Michael hacen referencia era nada menos que Caral. Posteriormente Kosok, acompañado de Richard Schaedel visitó el sitio, al que llamaron Chupacigarro Grande, por encontrarse dentro de los límites de la Hacienda Chupacigarro Grande. Respecto al nombre, Kosok hace un pequeño comentario sugiriendo que Chupacigarro sería una degeneración del nombre quechua Chuquicara (Kosok, 1965: 219). Otro importante aspecto, que llamo la atención del investigador fue, en sus propias palabras: "La impresión dada por las ruinas [se refiere a Caral] es que debió ser un centro ceremonial complejo aunque diferente tanto en forma como en disposición del resto de los otros centros de la costa peruana. La virtual ausencia de fragmentos de cerámica en el sitio hace cualquier cálculo preciso de su edad relativa imposible" (ibid: 219, resaltado en el original, la traducción es nuestra).

Kosok recorrió el valle hasta la zona de Peñico, visitando los sitios arcaicos de Era de Pando (Cerro los Taros), Miraya, Chupacigarro, Caral y Peñico. Además visitó muchos sitios tardíos, destacando extensos cementerios en el valle, muy afectados por el huaqueo. Se menciona la gran abundancia de material disperso en la superficie de estos cementerios, e incluso menciona abundantes fragmentos de cerámica del Tiahuanaco Costeño (Huari) del que llenaron la mitad de su jeep (Kosok, 1964: 221)."

Que podemos agregar como conclusion, tanto Engel como Kosok desde muchas decadas atras destacaron la importancia de Caral (antes Chupacigarro Grande) pero muchas de sus aseveraciones eran especulativas ya que la verdadera naturaleza del sitio recien se ha conocido a traves de los trabajos de la Dra. Ruth Shady. La discusion sobre quien descubrio el sitio o no, no es tan revelante, pero si nos atenemos al significado de la palabra "descubrir" la que se lleva las palmas es la Dra. Shady y su equipo que en todos estos años de investigaciones han "descubierto" gran parte de las estructuras dejando al descubierto la verdadera naturaleza del sitio arqueologico. La unica forma de entender un sitio arqueologico, su problematica y su naturaleza es a traves de excavaciones, y eso es particularmente cierto en sitios preceramicos.

Espero que este pequeño aporte sea util, sobretodo para aquellos que no estan familiarizados con la problematica del Preceramico Tardio en la Costa Nor Central del pais y vienen haciendo afirmaciones que no son ciertas del todo.

Posted by: Alejandro Chu | January 14, 2005 at 03:10 PM

I have worked for ten years in the Jequetepeque Valley. As a norteamericano archaeologist, I resent the churlish behavior of Haas and Creamer and the negative image that they convey to the rest of world's academic community. They should be roundly pilloried and their actions made a graduate school case study in how not to behave as guests in a foreign country.

Posted by: William Sapp | January 07, 2005 at 10:45 AM

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