One of the main objectives of the Wiese Foundation, through the Cao Museum, is the protection and preservation of movable and immovable cultural property of the El Brujo Archaeological Complex. For this reason, the pieces exhibited in the Cao Museum are subjected to a rigorous monitoring process. One of our main attractions is the so-called “Wooden Idol”. It is a block of sculptural lucumo wood that measures 2.48 m high. It depicts a character in a frontal position who wears a headdress with two felines facing each other. This piece was discovered in 1997 and was deposited as an offering during the construction of the second building of the Huaca Cao Viejo. Its fine carving, size and polychromy make it a unique and exceptional archaeological piece for the El Brujo Complex and Peru.
Because of its immeasurable historical and artistic value, the idol was subjected to a rigorous conservation treatment. The objective was to mitigate deterioration agents and to structurally stabilize the piece.
The treatment began with the development of a comprehensive diagnosis of the piece. Thus were identified the damages, deterioration agents and risks. Like people, cultural goods receive differentiated diagnoses, which allow the specialist to propose the most appropriate treatment. One of the most elementary technical processes of cultural goods conservation is mechanical cleaning. This allows to remove those elements that generate degradation to the piece. This process was slow and thorough, considering that the idol exceeds two meters in height.
When the presence of biological deterioration agents is suspected or identified, the controlled atmosphere technique is used. This procedure consists in placing the piece inside a sealed chamber and injecting gases that prevent the metabolism of insects, which could be inside the piece. The idol, being made solely of wood and having a large volume, is vulnerable to the effect of insects. Therefore, it underwent this technique for 20 days. Once the procedure was concluded, we could have the guarantees of a total disinfection from harmful biological agents; that is, all insects died.
Finally, it was reintegrated locally in areas that presented structural risk and prevented an adequate reading of the piece. The results of the conservation process were favorable for its preservation, as it prevented the attack from insects and reinforced its structural stability.
These technical processes allow cultural goods to be preserved for the enjoyment of visitors and future generations. The conservation works make it possible for cultural goods to physically prevail as witnesses of our ancestors’ social processes, and thus contribute to the improvement of society.
If you want to know more about the wooden idol, organize your group visit to El Brujo, here
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