Neal Bierling, Archaeological Adventures: Getting High in Peru to Sillustani, an Inca and pr...

Neal Bierling, Archaeological Adventures: Getting High in Peru to Sillustani, an Inca and pr...: Getting High in Peru to Sillustani, an Inca and pre-Inca site      On our way back to Puno, we stopped at the Mirador, which I already pu...

Getting High in Peru to Sillustani, an Inca and pre-Inca site

Getting High in Peru to Sillustani, an Inca and pre-Inca site


     On our way back to Puno, we stopped at the Mirador, which I already put out on Facebook, and our final stop was at Sillustani, a pre-Inca site of a tribe (Colla) who allied with them and became part of their southeastern group. However, this site was occupied by another tribe before the Inca and the Colla, the Pukara who lived here from 800 BC to 500 AD.  The distinctive features of this site are the funerary towers, in which the Colla tribe buried its nobility. The tallest one is 40-feet in height. Most of these tombs though are much shorter (not a tower) and reminded me of the Nawamis in the Sinai Desert where the Neolithic peoples buried their dead. Both are constructed of stone and cylindrical with the opening facing east. The dead, along with some possessions, were placed on the floor with some former possessions. I had no problem convincing some of the students to enter the former tomb for pictures. Surprisingly, they remained in the tomb for at least 20 minutes. Nearby are the remains of a distinctive and circular Inca temple not completely excavated or recovered up to preserve it.  I moved on to take still other pictures and caught up with the tomb lovers as we descended to the bus.

 Emily's picture of me on site

 Lori's camera here with Lori and Bethany

 Inca Temple above and below

For me, the distinctive feature of the funerary towers was that the massive blocks were cut and shaped to compose a cylinder (think soup can). I pointed out to some of the students that some of the fallen blocks were now used to line our walkway. We did the same thing at Petra (Jordan) using some of the fallen temple and Byzantine church blocks to compose a walkway for tourists.

 Remember my mention of "soup can" with smooth sides.

 The openings faced east

 They stayed inside for a long time

 Can you spot the snake upper right block (3rd row down)?

 Circular snake incised on the stone

From here we traveled nonstop back to Arequipa after ascending to 14,000 feet before the descent to 8,000 feet to Arequipa and back to our homes by 10:30 pm.

This is my final posting of our trek to Lake Titicaca. 

In October we plan to journey to Machu Pichu, but I plan to visit other archaeological sites before then. 

Neal Bierling, Archaeological Adventures: Getting High in the Andes, my Birthday Celebration...

Neal Bierling, Archaeological Adventures: Getting High in the Andes, my Birthday Celebration...: Getting High in the Andres, Lake Titicaca and after the visit to Islas Uros and Isla Taquile. My birthday surprise in Puno, Peru.  ...

Getting High in the Andes, my Birthday Celebration in Puno, Perus

Getting High in the Andres, Lake Titicaca and after the visit to Islas Uros and Isla Taquile.
My birthday surprise in Puno, Peru.

            From the islands, it was another 2-hour boat ride back to Puno. We arrived back in Puno at sunset. In fact, the boat was heading almost due west into the sunset when the students were asked to leave the rooftop of the boat and come back inside. So, one student at least, since she showed me her results, had to shoot the sunset from inside. The lake, by the way, is at 12,500 feet.

            We then had one hour before supper (7 pm), so we drove to the main plaza, another Plaza de Armas, where I and others shot the cathedral. The restaurant was right there so several of us used the bano (WC) facilities, which were appreciated since the boat’s bano was not the greatest. Once I used the bano, I invited the girls to use the men’s since it was empty and they had a long line (remember, 19 girls and only 3 guys), but no one took me up on it. Profe did and then the girls lined up at the men’s as well.

            We walked around the area; I bought a bottle of Peruvian wine for my birthday celebration that evening back in the hotel where I noticed it was actually from Argentina, Malbec Merlot, which I buy at home at Aldi’s.

 Lindsey's nice shot of me on Isla Uro

 It was dark when we arrived at the Plaza and Cathedral

At 7 pm, we gathered for supper for which we had ordered specifics a week ago. I ordered an Avocado Salad, Alpaca Steak, and a Fruit Salad. Every Saturday, this restaurant has a dinner show, and tonight it was a group of local indigenous singers and dancers presenting their history of the birth of the Incan peoples and the history of what followed, including the Spanish Conquest. I recognized their God, their Adam and Eve, their descendants who were taught how to farm, and then the Conquest happened. A Conquistador came on stage bearing sword and cross, followed by a priest bearing a cross together bringing death, enslavement, and Christianity with the Virgin de la Candelaria. I photographed mucho. 

 Their Adam and eve

 Learning how to weave

 The Conquistadors Arrived

 As did the priests

 Enslavement of the Incas

They accept the Virgin

After the play, the group did a number of songs which I also shot video of, especially since I love the pan flute. Then, one of the main characters started reading from a notecard. I understood the word for birthday but not the pronunciation of my name. He was looking at me and called me unto the stage. The next number they played and swayed to with their flutes, guitars, and drum, I also swayed to. When this ended, the audience, including the Calvin student group, applauded. I gave umbrazos to the men and cheek-kissed the ladies and said thank you profusely. I also thanked the students for making this birthday very unique. After a couple of more numbers, one of the ladies came to me at our table, grabbed my hand to pull me up onto the stage again to dance with her. I think my moves were okay, and later I was joined by one of Calvin’s guys, and a third lady grabbed another audience member and together we finished the dance. What a Hoot! What a birthday party! Since I was unable to take the pictures, some of the students posted pictures on Facebook and some students sent them to me. It is their pictures below.  

This was a special birthday treat for me; one that I never could dream of. Thanks to the Calvin College students. Wow.