The Comptroller General’s Office alerted the Ministry of Culture that the Emergency Archaeological Actions carried out in the Monumental Archaeological Zone (ZAM) of Kuelap, after the partial collapse of its perimeter wall on April 10, 2022, are “inadequate and do not guarantee due protection. of the affected area.
Through a statement, the agency said that these actions generate the risk of the total and irreversible loss of said Cultural Patrimony of the Nation.
According to the Official Orientation Report 011-2022-OCI/5765-SOO, it is evidenced “inadequate” jobs in the archaeological actions carried out in the collapsed southeast sector of the wall of the Kuelap Monumental Archaeological Zone referring to the shoring and installation of rain cover, which do not guarantee the permanent protection of the affected area of Kuelap.
For this reason, the Comptroller General’s Office recommended that the Minister of Culture, Betssy Chávez, adopt the pertinent actions, in order to overcome the situations and risks identified in the report, and guarantee the achievement of the objectives and the protection of the affected area of this important Monumental Archaeological Zone of Kuelap.
Placement of shoring in critical sectors
The Comptroller maintained that an inadequate execution of these conservation works was noticed, in the use of the material (type of wood) and amount of shoring (loads)which were a total of six units, located on both sides of the collapsed area of the wall, which do not obey a structural study according to the National Building Regulations (RNE).
It was shown that the six shorings made of eucalyptus wood logs, do not comply with the “Technical Standard for Buildings E.010″, since said wood is not regulated in the list of grouped species, likewise the nails and wires that join them to hold them, are oxidized, denoting deterioration and loss in their technical specifications and in their quality.
Likewise, in shoring no. 1, the existence of two cracks located on both sides of the shoring, from the head to the bottom of the wall and it was found that it was executed without having an adequate structural design, despite the fact that the damaged structure has a height of 7 meters and the presence of outcropping of salts and moss, indicating presence of moisture.
In the same way, in shoring no. 2, the absence of boards at the base of the perimeter wall, area with higher hydrostatic pressure; Likewise, the pressures of the earth (hydrostatic pressures, pressures of the soil) have not been taken into account, as indicated by the Technical Standard for Buildings E.020, which generates a high risk of collapse in this zone of Kuelap.
Placing a cover for rain protection
In this regard, the Comptroller affirms that it was evidenced that the nails and wires that are part of the support structure as elements of tension and support of the plastic canvas, which serves to protect it from the rains, are in the process of corrosion (rust); as well as pockets in the coverage due to accumulation of water, due to the fact that the wires are not properly tensioned, generating overload and deterioration, with the risk of the wall collapsing.
In addition, it was identified that the uprights (trestles) that were placed to separate the coverage from the wall, are crooked and/or bent in their support beams, which causes the plastic canvas to rest on the archaeological wall, generating destabilization. of the uprights and an overload on the pre-Hispanic structure.
Likewise, it was verified that the drainage system is not in operation, by showing that one of the concrete boxes for collecting water was fallen in the collapsed area, this being a final point of collection and control of the waters of rain.
