Emergency conservation of the Incawasi Collection

Ecuador

The Incawasi archaeological complex in Ibarra is the site of an Inca palace and baptismal pool linked to the UNESCO Andean Road System. Its collections hold more than 8,000 ceramic and metal objects from the Caranqui, Inca, Carchi, Capulí, Piartal, Tuza, and La Chimba cultures, spanning 500 BC to 1500 AD, some rumoured to have belonged to the Inca ruler Atahualpa.

In early 2024, escalating armed conflict and gang violence brought a wave of robberies to Ibarra, especially around the municipal building where the collections were stored, raising the risk of looting and black market trades. Inadequate storage compounded the danger, leaving objects exposed to dirt and humidity and vulnerable to salts, lichens, and fungal growth.

With €18,600 in support from CER, Fundación Conservartecuador worked with the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC) and the Municipality of Ibarra to safeguard the collection. In total, 3,000 objects were inventoried, photographed, and assessed. Fragmented pieces were consolidated, INPC specialists carried out chemical analysis, and objects were rehoused in custom supports offering stable conditions and physical protection. All objects are now logged in a digital registration system.

The project also fitted out a new exhibition space at the Centro Cultural El Cuartel, trained the technical team in preventive and emergency conservation, and ran heritage awareness workshops with the Quichua-Caranqui community to ensure sustained involvement in preservation efforts.