(30 Aug 1998) Spanish/Eng/Nat

In the last ten years, the Northern coast of Peru has become one of the most prominent areas for archaeological research in the Andes.

Archaeologists have uncovered objects telling of Inca ceremonial and burial practices that give an astonishing insight into the life of past Andean nations.

But the constant looting of various sites is posing a serious threat to further discoveries and has already caused irreversible damage to Peru's national heritage.

Peru has long been a country of intense archaeological interest.

This site, La Liberated in the north, is a burial place of the Mochicas - considered one of the most important cultures in the history of Andean society.

The Mochicas developed a strong central state society, and the remains found here are evidence of fine art and elaborate complex social customs.

But such a wealth of historic evidence is suffering at the hands of looters.

These holes in the ground are the ransacked remains of burial sites once rich in ancient artefacts.

The international collectors' market is a hungry one in which buyers will spend many thousands of U-S dollars on the black market.

Those fighting to protect Peru's historic past say the state's efforts are both poorly financed and absurdly ill equipped.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have had a big problem with looting and destruction. What is really annoying is the fact that the looters here are basically poor peasants that loot not for the richness or the wealth but for peanuts, for really small money. The people that make the real money are the people that are traffickers - the people that wheel and deal with these archaeological objects. To obtain one single sellable object, the looters have to destroy complete sites such as this one."
SUPER CAPTION: Luis Jaime Castillo, Director of San Jose Moro Archaeological Project

Work at La Liberated is now into its eighth year.

Despite the looting, much remains to be uncovered, and this is often done with the help of local people.

Security has been mounted to protect what is left of the site, with a guard permanently stationed here.

Experts say it makes sense to pour more resources into these projects.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"It (the government) doesn't attempt to invest efficiently in protecting this heritage, which is an inexhaustible source of wealth and where adequate study and meticulous investigative work could provide the state with more cash than any other enterprise which it supports."
SUPER CAPTION: Carlos Huester La Torre, Archaeologist

The Moche culture dates back to one thousand years before Christ.

Perhaps its best known figure was the Lord of Sipan, whose solid gold breast plate, which was sold on the black market 16 years ago, fetched 1.6 (m) million dollars.

This princely artefact is now in the National Museum of Lima.

Today, work continues to protect Peru's rich historical past.

For the scientists dedicated to this heritage, the preservation and conservation of Peru's past could well be the key to its future.

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