The world of Cayash half a century ago: A Polish look at peasant life
We are pleased to announce the publication of the book by Prof. Aleksander Posern-Zieliński “The world of Cayash half a century ago: A Polish perspective on peasant life in the northern highlands of Lima” by Ediciones El Lector and the Andean Studies Center.
The publication compiles the research conducted by Polish scientists in 1978 in the Cayash Valley and presents the daily life, work, customs, and culture of Andean peasant communities. Professor Posern-Zieliński combines ethnographic and archaeological observations with his own fieldwork experiences, creating a valuable record of a world that, in the following decades, underwent profound social and cultural transformations.
New Inca trails discovered in Machu Picchu National Park as part of the work of the Center for Andean Studies
More than 2,5 kilometers of pre-Hispanic roads, as well as possible platforms and terraces, were identified using LiDAR technology in the vicinity of the Mandor wall, near the city of Machu Picchu, during preliminary archaeological reconnaissance work carried out in July 2026.
Among the evidence, a main road at least 1,2 kilometers long stands out, its layout exhibiting characteristics consistent with Inca-era construction techniques, such as a zigzag path. This discovery will expand our understanding of the territorial configuration, access systems, and spaces that formed part of the cultural landscape of Machu Picchu.
The survey was conducted in the Machu Picchu National Archaeological Park using LiDAR remote sensing technology, which allows the detection and recording of possible archaeological evidence hidden under the dense vegetation and rugged geography of the cloud forest.
Call for applications for 2027: "Dr. Maria Rostworowski de Diez Canseco" Scholarship
Research scholarship in Inca studies, for master's and doctorate, awarded by the Center for Andean Studies of the University of Warsaw (CEAC) thanks to funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Studies of Poland.
Having successfully completed the Third Call for Applications for the 2026 Scholarship, we are pleased to announce the Call for Applications for 2027. The deadline for submitting applications is September 15, 2026. The results will be announced on October 10. The recipient of the 2027 scholarship may begin their research work on November 15, 2026, and continue it until December 31, 2027.
"The War of the Huauqui" Book Presentation
We are pleased to invite you to the presentation of the book «The War of the Huauqui. Rivalries within the Inca Elite. 15th-16th Centuries by Prof. Mariusz Ziółkowski.
The event, organized in collaboration with the Catholic University of Santa Maria, will take place in Arequipa (Casa Gibson, Calle La Merced – 108 Cercado) on Wednesday, July 15 at 17:30 p.m.
«Timing the Sacred: A Multi-Step Chronological Framework for the Llullaillaco Inca Burial»
New scientific publication!
We are pleased to share our latest publication:
«Timing the Sacred: A Multi-Step Chronological Framework for the Llullaillaco Inca Burial», published in Archaeometry.
The study presents a high-resolution chronological framework for the famous Inca ritual site of Llullaillaco by integrating radiocarbon dating, stable isotope analysis, and Bayesian chronological modeling. The results allow for a more precise understanding of when the capacocha ritual took place and offer new insights into the chronology of the Inca Empire.
The article is available in Open Access, thanks to funding from the IDUB (Inicjatywa Doskonałości – Uczelnia Badawcza) program of the University of Warsaw, which guarantees free access for the entire scientific community and the interested public.
https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.70172
New publications by Prof. Mariusz Ziółkowski
We are pleased to inform you about the recent publication of two new books by Prof. Mariusz Ziolkowski, the director of CEAC:
«History, Calendar and Skylore of the Incas at the Time of the Spanish Conquest» (Springer publishing house);
«The War of the Huauqui: Rivalries within the Inca elite, 15th-16th centuries« (El Lector publishing house).
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POLAND
University of Warsaw
Center for Andean Studies
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Center for Andean Studies
of the University of Warsaw in Cusco