Analyzing the Dynamic Cultural Landscape of the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, Peru

Yale University, New Haven CT

Investigators

Abstract

Dove 0097263 This is a dissertation grant submitted by Dr. Michael Dove, Yale University on behalf of his student, Ms. Keely Maxwell. The objective of the project is to analyze the dynamic cultural landscape of the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, Peru, and investigate how and why people physically and ideologically shape its landscape. This project is being jointly supported between the Americas Program and the Geography and Regional Science Program. In collaboration with the Machu Picchu Program in Cuzco,and the University of Cuzco San Antonio Abad, the investigators' aim is to understand how and why participants' perceptions of, and rights and responsibilities to, trees and forests in Machu Picchu differ; how these differences affect resource management strategies and outcomes; and how interactions among physical and ideological shapings of Machu Picchu cause social and ecological consequences. Results of this research will benefit both countries by promoting interdisciplinary discussions regarding how to utilize social theory to analyze and resolve protected area problems, and how social theory can better address dynamics between social and ecological systems.