Qala Yampu: The Lake Titicaca Reed Boat Project

Click the thumbnail below to see the larger photo!

Paul Harmon skippered the totora reed boat across Lake Titicaca. He is co-directing the Qala Yampu project with Alexei Vranich and has overall project management responsibilities. He received his Business Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Masters Certificate in Project Management from The George Washington University. He has led multi-million dollar projects in the United States, Chile, Guatemala, and Peru. He is a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. His passions include white water kayaking and scuba diving. He also has significant experience racing small sailboats all along the East Coast of the United States.

Work?

Some offices are better than others!

________

Alexei Vranich created the idea of the Qala Yampu Project. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and has been working in Bolivia since 1995. He has extensive research experience around the world in such places as Spain, Italy, India, Peru, and Bulgaria, having most recently finished a conservation research project in Costa Rica. He has appeared in television and on the radio and in magazines such as National Geographic, The Sciences, and Archaeology Magazine, in addition to a variety of national and international newspapers. This present research is being filmed by Engel Brothers Inc., New York City based filmmakers for the Discovery Channel and National Geographic.

Yoga?

Meditation...Lake Titicaca style!

________

Rebekka Rust is the director of public relations for the project. She studies applied cultural sciences at the University of Lueneburg, Germany where her majors are economics and public relations. She has worked for newspapers and as a project manager in a corporate design agency. She loves traveling and this is her 2nd time to South America. She enjoys painting and sculpture while working as an assistant for orthopedic surgery, she seems to jump between "worlds" in her everyday life.

Dr. Doolittle?

Rebekka learning the language of the locals.

________

Chris Knutson, an archaeologist and long-time scholar of reed boat technology. He received his bachelors degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his masters from Cambridge University. While at Penn he wrote his senior honors thesis on the possibility of using reed boats to transport monoliths to Tiwanaku. He plans to combine his PHD research with law school and then to specialize in cultural heritage law.

Master Builder?

No, wait, that's Chris showing his punting prowess.

________

Kenji Spielman is a classically trained physicist who studied at Carelton College. An avid outdoorsman and fly fisherman, he also plays taiko, a Japanese-American drumming style. Kenji was the 1st mate on the voyage of the totora boat. In the end he had more sailing time on the Qala Yampu than any other team member.

Warm?

Ninja Kenji shows the proper way to wear fleece.

________

Mariette Verseveld, who hails from Holland, provided valuable assistance during the early developmental stages of the project. She was also instrumental in locating and planning the movement of the stone. She finished her studies in business communications in Tilburg, Netherlands. She enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures.

Coca Lessons?

Don't get in the way of her caffeine!

________

Niels Johannsen, archaeologist and expert on early cattle domestication in Denmark, studied at the University of Århus and Cambridge University. His contributions to the project included helping to select the stone, the ramp site and the boat route and investigating Peruvian andesite sources. An experienced sailor and outdoorsman, he has taken part in numerous experimental archaeology projects.

Stressed?

Once again...some offices are better than others!

________

Froilan Choque Loza, a local Aymara, he and his wife own and run the restaurant, Sol Andes, in Huatahata. Froilan was instrumental in organizing the movement of the boat to the water and loading and unloading the stone. He was responsible for overseeing the repairs on the boat in Tiquina. He also provided valuable assistance in sailing to and from Copacabana. In essence, he is a "Jack of all trades" and a real friend.

Racing?

The motor boat can't keep up...riiiight.

________

Caesar Kalisaya, works for UNAR in La Paz. He has extensive knowledge and experience with many archaeological projects around Lake Titicaca, including Tiwanaku. Caesar acted as our on site director for building our ramp in Copacabana. He was responsible for the loading and the unloading of the stone to and from our boat and organized the local teams that made that happen.

Hmmm...

Caesar wondering what he got himself into.

________

Free counter

					*Click the thumbnail below to see the larger photo!*
		Paul Harmon skippered the totora reed boat across Lake Titicaca. He is co-directing the Qala Yampu project with Alexei Vranich and has overall project management responsibilities. He received his Business Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Masters Certificate in Project Management from The George Washington University. He has led multi-million dollar projects in the United States, Chile, Guatemala, and Peru. He is a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. His passions include white water kayaking and scuba diving. He also has significant experience racing small sailboats all along the East Coast of the United States.			*Work?* Some offices are better than others! ________
		Alexei Vranich created the idea of the Qala Yampu Project. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and has been working in Bolivia since 1995. He has extensive research experience around the world in such places as Spain, Italy, India, Peru, and Bulgaria, having most recently finished a conservation research project in Costa Rica. He has appeared in television and on the radio and in magazines such as National Geographic, The Sciences, and Archaeology Magazine, in addition to a variety of national and international newspapers. This present research is being filmed by Engel Brothers Inc., New York City based filmmakers for the Discovery Channel and National Geographic.			*Yoga?* Meditation...Lake Titicaca style! ________
		Rebekka Rust is the director of public relations for the project. She studies applied cultural sciences at the University of Lueneburg, Germany where her majors are economics and public relations. She has worked for newspapers and as a project manager in a corporate design agency. She loves traveling and this is her 2nd time to South America. She enjoys painting and sculpture while working as an assistant for orthopedic surgery, she seems to jump between "worlds" in her everyday life.			*Dr. Doolittle?* Rebekka learning the language of the locals. ________
		Chris Knutson, an archaeologist and long-time scholar of reed boat technology. He received his bachelors degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his masters from Cambridge University. While at Penn he wrote his senior honors thesis on the possibility of using reed boats to transport monoliths to Tiwanaku. He plans to combine his PHD research with law school and then to specialize in cultural heritage law.			*Master Builder?* No, wait, that's Chris showing his punting prowess. ________
		Kenji Spielman is a classically trained physicist who studied at Carelton College. An avid outdoorsman and fly fisherman, he also plays taiko, a Japanese-American drumming style. Kenji was the 1st mate on the voyage of the totora boat. In the end he had more sailing time on the Qala Yampu than any other team member.			Warm? Ninja Kenji shows the proper way to wear fleece. ________
		Mariette Verseveld, who hails from Holland, provided valuable assistance during the early developmental stages of the project. She was also instrumental in locating and planning the movement of the stone. She finished her studies in business communications in Tilburg, Netherlands. She enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures.			Coca Lessons? Don't get in the way of her caffeine! ________
		Niels Johannsen, archaeologist and expert on early cattle domestication in Denmark, studied at the University of Århus and Cambridge University. His contributions to the project included helping to select the stone, the ramp site and the boat route and investigating Peruvian andesite sources. An experienced sailor and outdoorsman, he has taken part in numerous experimental archaeology projects.			Stressed? Once again...some offices are better than others! ________
		Froilan Choque Loza, a local Aymara, he and his wife own and run the restaurant, Sol Andes, in Huatahata. Froilan was instrumental in organizing the movement of the boat to the water and loading and unloading the stone. He was responsible for overseeing the repairs on the boat in Tiquina. He also provided valuable assistance in sailing to and from Copacabana. In essence, he is a "Jack of all trades" and a real friend.			Racing? The motor boat can't keep up...riiiight. ________
		Caesar Kalisaya, works for UNAR in La Paz. He has extensive knowledge and experience with many archaeological projects around Lake Titicaca, including Tiwanaku. Caesar acted as our on site director for building our ramp in Copacabana. He was responsible for the loading and the unloading of the stone to and from our boat and organized the local teams that made that happen.			Hmmm... Caesar wondering what he got himself into. ________