Patjxa The Hunter

Last week I did a photo session with performance artist, Rebeca Ráez for a project she is currently working on. Rebeca is the partner of a new friend, Pachacutec. Pacha is a member of the Ukuku group which I accompanied on the Qoyllur Rit’i pilgrimage.

He asked me to help Rebeca with her current work which is exploring an important archaeological discovery recently unearthed in the Peruvian highlands. 

A 2020 exploration near Lake Titicaca uncovered thousands of artifacts along with the tombs of several people. One of the tombs contained the remains of a woman buried with various tools for hunting big game.

The female big-game hunter’s remains were found at a location named Wilamaya Patjxa, and Rebeca’s project is entitled ‘Patjxa The Hunter’.

The discovery at Wilamaya Patjxa is approximately 9000 years old, making it the oldest find of a female hunter in South America. However, many have now been found in Peru and elsewhere on the continent. So many in fact, that archaeologists are coming to the conclusion that there were nearly as many female hunters as there were male.

Rebeca’s current work is exploring these important findings of the female big-game hunter through performance art. My photos will assist her as she further explores the misconceptions about the gender roles of our ancient relatives.

Rebeca’s work includes work from Pachacutec as well. Pacha created weapons, iron staffs, and symbols for Rebeca’s project as he is a tinsmith and iron sculptor. He has exhibited both nationally and internationally. Art runs through the family genes as his father is a respected artist in Peru. 

I enjoyed working with them on the project as it allowed me to do something more creative than what I have been doing lately. We plan to create more photos for the project later this year.

That is all for now friends, but more is coming soon.

Be well,

MB