The pachacamac museum in the XXI century

Abstract

Whether coming down through the valleys from the heights of the Andes or walking along the coast, a visit to the temples at the Pachacamac archaeological site, the most important sacred space or sanctuary on the pre-Hispanic coast, has become a fundamental ritual pilgrimage. The new site museum has meant an effort on the part of the Ministry of Culture of Perú to offer the public a museum that will provide the appropriate conditions for the conservation, preservation and promotion of the cultural wealth it contains. This is one of the most visited museums in the country and the target audience, on which a special emphasis is placed, is the economically depressed population which surrounds the archaeological site. Following the guidelines set by the Management Plan, the museum's management proposes the inclusion of the people located in its immediate surroundings through their active participation for the benefit of the archaeological site and its conservation. To this end, the museum has implemented a Community Development Program, in which a group of women that have been trained create products using the iconography of the sanctuary for its sale in the museum. The Educational project works with school children in promoting and strengthening the identity and the engagement with heritage.