ARCHAEOLOGY

People tend to think only of the Incas when the topic of South American archaeology comes up and, in reality, the Incas were only the lasts of a long series of Andean cultures that emerged, that flourished and were superseded. Like everything else about Ecuador, its intriguing archaeological past is one of the worlds best kept secrets. For a combination of geographic and ecological reasons, almost everything seems to have happened first in Ecuador.

Throughout the country, arrangements can be made to visit excavations in progress, ancient mounds and terraces on private farms, famous collections of pre-Columbian artifacts in private homes, and, of course, public museums. Discussion with local scholars and excavation teams are part of special interest programs, depending on your field of study.