Since 2010, we have been working to promote cultural heritage preservation, archaeological and ethnographic research and community development in the department of Potosí, Bolivia. Our work is focused on the site of Chullpa Q’asa and the nearby community of Visigsa, where the descendants of the original inhabitants of the site live.

In July, 2013, years of collective effort culminated in the inauguration of the “Casa Ancestral” Archaeological and Cultural Museum. Funded by individual donations which covered materials and skilled labor, it was constructed by community members who tirelessly dedicated their time and effort to rescue and house the artifacts and memories of their ancestors that they had collected. 
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T​he museum seeks to promote the creation and dissemination of knowledge conerning the Pre-Hispanic residents of Chullpa Q’asa, while serving as a vehicle for community development. In so doing, it promotes synergistic linkages as the material legacy of the original inhabitants is exhibited to generate resources to improve the lives of their descendants. In addition, the project links the community of Visigsa to the world, as national and international visitors learn about, and help preserve, the community’s cultural heritage.
 

Research is an important component in this process, yielding not only artifacts which are exhibited in the museum, but also greater knowledge about the society and economy of the forebears of today’s community.

In 2010, under the direction of internationally recognized Bolivian archaeologist and museologist David Pereira, we began to collaborate with the community and local officials to preserve and conduct research on the archaeological site so that it may be a vehicle for community development. Working with community members, we surveyed the ruins, removed vegetation, installed a flagpole and flag, fabricated and installed a sign on the highway, and examined artifacts which had been collected by community members. 

In subsequent meetings with the community, the decision was made to construct a museum to house the artifacts and further propel community development. 

The museum, inaugurated in 2013, further established the area as an archaeo-touristic site where visitors traveling between Potosí and Uyuni can visit, take a break from the road, have a refreshment or snack, and hike and appreciate the spectacular view of the surrounding countryside and river valley below.

2014 saw the consolidation of the project, and the purchase of a loom as both part of a living history exhibit and a source or revenue for local weavers. Other accomplishments in 2014 included improvements to the cafe and the completion of the restrooms.   

Organizers:

Doña Florentina Choque Villca is a member of the community of Visigsa, and serves as the President of the Asociación de Gestión del Museo y Sitio Arqueológico Chullpa Q’asa, which is the group entrusted by the community to administer the museum. She has been involved in the project since the beginning, participated in the construction, and has served as a volunteer curator since the museum’s inauguration.

Doña Felicia Figueroa Choque is a lifelong resident of Visigsa and serves as Vice-President of the Asociación de Gestión del Museo y Sitio Arqueológico Chullpa Q’asa. She participated in the initial launch of the project, assisted with the construction and outfitting of building, and has served as a volunteer curator since the inauguration of the museum. 

​Doña Pasquala Saique Copacaba has been involved in diverse aspects of the project for many years and serves as Secretary of Operations of the Asociación de Gestión del Museo y Sitio Arqueológico Chullpa Q’asa.

​Don Alberto Portaca is a curaca and former corregidor from the community of Visigsa and has represented it before regional and national authorities over many years of service. He has a deep and intrinsic understanding of the culture, heritage, lifeways and needs of the community and serves as Treasurer of the Asociación de Gestión del Museo y Sitio Arqueológico Chullpa Q’asa. Don Alberto Portaca also coordinated and supervised the construction of the museum. Since its inauguration, he has remained a key member of the leadership team, volunteering at the museum, making improvements to it, and coordinating its administration.

​Don Andrés Mamani, serves as Secretary of Acts of the Asociación de Gestión del Museo y Sitio Arqueológico Chullpa Q’asa, and has been involved in the project since its inception.

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Dr. Claudia Rivera Casanovas is a Bolivian archaeologist who received her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. The co-author of Arte rupestre de los valles cruceños (2015) and numerous articles and chapters, her research focuses on settlement patterns, spatial analysis, textiles and ceramic technology. Currently, she teaches at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés in La Paz in the Instituto de Investigaciones Arqueológicas y Antropológicas. She is a member of the Bolivian Academy of History and serves on the Advisory Council of the Asociación de Gestión del Museo y Sitio Arqueológico Chullpa Q’asa. In 2018 and 2019 she led prospecting and excavation work at the Chullpa Q’asa site.

Roberto Salinas Izurza a  is a Bolivian historian and researcher at the Casa de La Libertad in Sucre, Bolivia. The author of two books and an avid photographer, he has extensive experience organizing and presenting museum exhibits throughout Bolivia.  Mr. Salinas has played a critical role in the establishment, organization and administration of the Casa Ancestral and serves on the Advisory Board of the Asociación de Gestión del Museo y Sitio Arqueológico Chullpa Q’asa.

David M. Pereira Herrera is a Bolivian anthropologist and archeologist with over 40 years of experience in archaeology, ethnohistory, cultural resource preservation and local development. He has previously served as the Director of the Anthropological Institute and Museum of the San Simón University of Cochabamba, Bolivia, where he presently teaches in the School of Humanities and Educational Sciences. He has received numerous awards and regularly participates in seminars and conferences both inside and outside of Bolivia. In addition, he serves on the Advisory Board of the Asociación de Gestión del Museo y Sitio Arqueológico Chullpa Q’asa and has published numerous articles and books on archaeological topics, museology, cultural resource management and sustainable tourism.

Dr. Nicholas Robins holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University, with concentrations in History, Political Science and Community Development. He teaches Latin American History at North Carolina State University and serves on the Advisory Council of the Asociación de Gestión del Museo y Sitio Arqueológico Chullpa Q’asa. He is the founding president of the Bolivian Studies Association, the recipient of three Fulbright Awards and a Doctor Honoris Causa degree by the National University of Huancavelica, and is the author or editor of fifteen books, as well as numerous articles and book chapters. Over a span of more than three decades Dr. Robins has studied, researched and worked in Latin America, having focused on Andean ethnohistory for twenty years. 

SPECIAL THANKS ALSO TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF VISIGSA AND PRIVATE DONORS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS EFFORT!