Huaquero

On the coast of Ecuador and Peru former huaqueros (from huaca, meaning “holy place or object”) recall the period when they were involved in the illegal excavation and trade in prehispanic archaeological objects. In a conscious exploration of the boundary between fact and fiction, the film features re-enactments of the huaqueros’ experiences.

Some of the objects sold were genuine, but swindle was also involved: objects were either secretly repaired or were completely faked. We see the clay for one such replica being carefully and precisely shaped, finished and treated to make it look ancient.

The filmmakers use the washed out colors of 16mm film to evoke the nostalgia surrounding 20th century travel films and implicitly show how the culture of indigenous communities suffered under colonial rule. By focusing on the human excavators and their stories, Huaquero stays close to the local perspective.