Latest news with #BenedictedeMontlaur
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Were Searching a Forest in the Clouds—and Found 100 Structures From an Ancient City
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Archaeologists with the World Monuments Fund uncovered over 100 previously unknown archaeological structures in Peru's Rio Abiseo National Park. The area in and around the park was the home of the Chachapoya civilization from the seventh through 16th centuries. Located over 6,500 feet above sea level, the members of this civilization were known as the 'people of the cloud forest.' Rio Abiseo National Park sits over 10,000 feet above sea level in Peru's San Martin region of the Andes Mountains. Plenty of its land is known to hold ancient discoveries, and archaeologists are still uncovering more. Recently, a team located over 100 previously unknown structures, all part of the Chachapoya civilization from sometime between the seventh and 16th centuries. According to a release from the World Monuments Fund, a team of archaeologists explored the Gran Pajatén area within the Rio Abiseo National Park, a UNESCO Mixed World Heritage site recognized for both cultural richness and natural beauty. The area was first rediscovered in the 1960s, and in the 1980s—the national park was officially founded in 1983—archaeological teams found 26 ancient structures. This new discovery of over 100 additional structures expands our understanding of the Chachapoya civilization, the members of which were known as the 'people of the cloud forest.' The civilization was known for sophisticated urban centers, ceremonial platforms, cliffside burial structures, and agricultural terraces. The regional chiefdom society also had a distinctive architectural and artistic language that remains on display in circular buildings, geometric friezes, and decorated burials. From 2022 through 2024, researchers used aerial and manual LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry, topographic registration, and technomorphological analysis to create a detailed map of Gran Pajatén—a site with ceremonial buildings decorated with high-relief friezes, views of the cloud forest, and stone mosaics depicting human figures. The technology allowed archaeologists to see through the forest canopy, map the area, and interpret construction techniques and layout. 'What makes this moment so meaningful is not only the scale of what's been uncovered, but how we were able to do it,' Benedicte de Montlaur, president and CEO of WMF, said in a statement. 'By using advanced technology, our team was able to gather extraordinary visual and scientific documentation that brings Grant Pajaten to life—all while preserving its delicate environment.' On the ground, investigations have confirmed the Chachapoya presence at Gran Pajatén stretches back as far back as the 14th century, with soil layer analysis hinting at even earlier use of the site. Adding to the discovery is a nearby network of pre-Hispanic roads connecting the site to others in the region, supporting the theory that the civilization was part of a well-connected territory full of hierarchical systems. 'This discovery radically expands our understating of Gran Pajaten and raises new questions about the site's role in the Chachapoya world,' Juan Pablo de la Puente Brunke, executive director of WMF in Peru, said in a statement. 'Evidence now confirms that it is not an isolated complex but part of an articulated network of pre-Hispanic settlements from different periods.' The park's remote location means that the rich archaeological sites have been subject to minimal human intervention, helping protect the history with a high degree of authenticity. Many of the sites, though, are fragile, overgrown by vegetation. While there, the archaeological team undertook conservation interventions to reinforce stairs and stone reliefs, along with a partial reassembly of a perimeter wall. Ricardo Morales Gamarra, head of the conservation component of the project, said that the work can serve as a model for future efforts in the area. The Museo de Arte de Lima in Peru is now offering a free exhibition on the Chachapoya culture and the recent WFM discoveries. 'Though the site itself remains out of reach for most,' de Montlaur said, 'these tools will allow us to share its stories widely through thoughtful, immersive digital storytelling.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Arab News
06-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
World Monuments Fund strengthens its presence to support heritage in Arab countries
RIYADH: The World Monuments Fund, which celebrates its sixth decade this year, has strengthened its official presence in Arab countries, organizing an exploratory tour in several countries including Saudi Arabia. The organization has made significant contributions to the preservation of tangible heritage and has carried out 68 projects in 13 Arab countries since the mid-1990s. At the end of last month, WMF organized an exploratory tour in several countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The delegation, composed of 45 individuals, was led by the fund's president and CEO, Benedicte de Montlaur, with the attendance of Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, board member of the fund, and Dr. Elie Flouty, the fund's representative in the Arab countries, along with other members of the organization. This tour marked the beginning of a stronger official presence of the WMF in the Arab region, coinciding with increasing official and unofficial Arab interest in heritage issues, preservation, and integrating this into economic, tourism and social development plans. This aligns with the WMF's 60th anniversary celebration. Dr. Elie Flouty said: 'We can now say that the WMF has an official presence in the region, which is rich in world heritage sites. We will work with all Arab governmental and non-governmental entities and international institutions to safeguard our ancient Arab heritage. WMF is currently active in 14 sites across various Arab countries and collaborates with both governments and local communities to implement these projects, providing funding and expertise.' Among the most significant initiatives of the WMF is the World Monuments Watch, a list of endangered sites issued every two years, which includes 25 historic places. For the 2025 list, three sites from the Arab region were included — the Jewish heritage in Debdou in Morocco, the historic urban fabric of Gaza, and the water reservoirs (majels) in the Old City of Tunis. The delegation's tour in the Gulf region included several stops, starting in Kuwait where it visited the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and Dr. Mohamed Al-Rumaihi discussed the history of Kuwait and its major economic and social milestones. The delegation visited the Soof Center for Spinning and the Grand Mosque, designed by architect Mohamed Saleh Makiya. In Saudi Arabia, it visited the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, explored the Old City of Jeddah, and toured the home of architect Sami Angawi, which reflects the architecture of Hijaz. They also visited Madinah and its major religious landmarks and concluded their visit to AlUla, a site rich in human heritage, natural and cultural landmarks. In Bahrain, the delegation visited the city of Muharraq and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pearling Path, the Bahrain National Museum, and several houses within the Sheikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Center for Culture and Research. They also visited Bahrain Fort and its museum, the Dilmun Burial Mounds listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. WMF is the world's leading non-governmental organization for heritage preservation. Headquartered in New York, the fund has offices in Peru, London, Paris, Spain, Portugal, India and China, with projects in 112 countries. It has worked on more than 700 heritage sites. WMF's mission is to save the most threatened landmarks, whether from war or climate change.
