News and Information
We are now a Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) Registered Organisation!
We are pleased to announce that ISCA Archaeology is now a Registered Organisation with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA). This prestigious accreditation is a unique quality assurance scheme and it reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethical practice in archaeology.
Our team is dedicated to providing expert archaeological services with integrity, professionalism, and a deep respect for cultural heritage.
We continue to grow and uphold these values for which we have been accredited.
From the Field: A Pre-Incan Offering in Lima, Peru
As archaeologists we are often asked, ‘what is the best thing you have ever found?’ Below you can find what our Heritage Consultant Tim Brown has to say about the best thing he has ever found.
From 2009 to 2011, I was fortunate to be a part of the excavation team in Huaca Pucllana, Lima, Peru. Huaca Pucllana is one of the main archaeological attractions in Lima. Its convenient location right in the heart of Miraflores district makes it a popular stop among travellers. With its adobe and clay structures, the Huaca served as an important ceremonial and administrative centre for the Lima Culture, a society which developed in the Peruvian Central Coast between the years of AD 200 and AD 700. Following the site’s Lima Culture origins, the Huaca saw further occupation during the Wari (AD 700-1100) and the Ichma (AD 1100 – 1469) periods.
During excavations, I uncovered an almost perfectly preserved Ichma Culture offering. Nestled into a pit within the side of the ceremonial pyramid, a complete ceramic vessel, decorated with serpent reliefs, contained the organic remains of ‘chicha’ kernels, a purple corn native to Peru. On top of the offering, a further vessel of gourd ‘maté’ contained the remains of a drink made from chicha which is still consumed in Peru to this day. The significance of this offering primarily derives from its ability to provide insight into religious, ceremonial, and culinary practices of the Peruvian Central Coast during the pre-Incan period.
