Abstract
Scientific research is sometimes subjected to go through field study in places that are difficult to access. Where man has not managed to reach through traditional techniques, work at height systems offer new possibilities, provide safety in exploration and represent an excellent tool that allows a new insight of spaces object of scientific research. For more than 20 years, the Ukhupacha team has been studying, analyzing and selecting the teams, techniques and rope progression systems that best adapt to archaeological works in vertical environments. The projects studied are developed in Pre-Columbian cultures of the Andean mountain range, the high Amazon jungle and its surroundings. As a result, a new working methodology called Vertical Archaeology has been developed. It prioritizes user’s safety by means of ropes when accessing archaeological research areas. The recommended and safest systems, techniques and personal protective equipment (PPE) are presented for each of the phases in which it is proposed to divide archaeological investigations: exploration, training and expedition. Using rope access techniques has allowed the safe study of new artistic and heritage aspects in ancient civilizations, as well as the approach of the scientific community to places that until now had remained hidden.
Highlights
On the eastern slope of the Andean mountain range, there are areas of great archaeological interest susceptible to scientific study [1,2,3,4,5,6]
The direct application of techniques and protective equipment (PPE) from sports, such as climbing or speleology, without a prior analysis of suitability means a serious error that can lead to negative and even fatal consequences for researchers. The transposition of these techniques requires a detailed study by experienced specialists and a process of technical adaptation of the equipment and systems, which are adapted to the profile of the inexperienced user to whom they are addressed
The vast experienced throughout all these projects allowed us to observe notable differences that must be kept in mind and stand out among the area of sports with respect to the specific techniques applied in Vertical Archaeology
Summary
On the eastern slope of the Andean mountain range, there are areas of great archaeological interest susceptible to scientific study [1,2,3,4,5,6]. It is a very common practice to build both small burials or “chullpas”, as well as large entire necropolises, in vertical places at high altitude through the construction of walls of support and graves [7,8,9]. The jungle and nature reoccupied them, and so, they have remained over time and for centuries without being pinpointed, mainly due to the complexity of accessing the study areas [10]. In this context, archaeologists and researchers are forced to use complex rope access techniques in order to carry out their scientific investigations (Figure 1)
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