Launch of the book "El Qhapaq Ñan"

The 16 of April, the University of Azuay, was the setting for the launching of the book El Qhapaq Ñan by the research professor Diego Suárez, in the Multiple Use Room.

The author was accompanied by Francisco Salgado, Rector; Martha Cobos, Academic Vice-Rector; Jacinto Guillén, Vice Chancellor for Research; Juan Cordero, Former Director of the Universidad del Azuay and commentator of the work, as well as colleagues and family members.

"The path of investigation is not a matter of a few days or months, but rather it is a lifelong path. In this case, Diego Suárez reminds us how valuable it is to recover the sense of the Andean roads that are now proposed in the book, "said the Rector.

There is little research done in Ecuador on the Qhapaq Ñan or "main road". With this background, the research aims to provide new geological, geographical, archaeological data, among others, on this route that crosses the provinces of Cañar, Azuay, Loja and Guayas.

"The Inca Empire, to exercise strict control, needed a system of well-constructed roads to quickly reach all places within the territory. They were consolidated above all to maintain dominance, maintain political centralism, facilitate the movement of all and have news and products quickly "explained Juan Cordero.

In this investigation it has been possible to make an archaeological catalog of the route, the infrastructure and the archaeological sites associated with the road. In addition, a satellite georeferencing of these elements of material culture has been carried out in a digitized database.

"The Universidad del Azuay was part of this macro Andean regional project through the execution of this interdisciplinary archaeological research that began at the 2007 under the direction and in harmony with UNESCO. A team of experts was organized to carry out the Qhapaq Ñan studies that have finally been completed ", concluded Diego Suárez.