Following a wave of intense criticism on social media, Spanish YouTuber Ibai Rider deleted a controversial video in which he allegedly entered an archaeological site in Huancavelica, Peru, without authorization and desecrated pre-Inca remains, including elongated skulls of high historical value, which he displayed on his digital platform, according to Milenio.
Ibai Rider’s actions provoked rejection from both specialists and the public, with many labeling the act as a “profanation” of Peru’s cultural heritage, reported La República. Social media users expressed their anger at his lack of respect towards Peru’s historical legacy, emphasizing the need for respect towards the country’s beauty and cultural significance.
Experts warned that Ibai Rider’s actions could be sanctioned under the Peru’s General Law of Cultural Heritage, which prohibits intervening in cultural goods without authorization, according to La República. The lawyer Aaron Alemán told El Comercio that Ibai Rider may have committed the alleged crime of assault against archaeological monuments, punishable by up to six years in prison. “In the case of Ibai Rider, two criminal activities can be identified: the attack on pre-Hispanic archaeological monuments and inducing attacks against archaeological sites,” Alemán said, as reported by El Comercio.
Archaeologist James Quillca stated that the inadequate manipulation of human remains and the promotion of such sites without a management plan or proper trails contribute to the destruction of archaeological evidence. “Far from protecting or benefiting the archaeological site, they only contribute to the destruction of the archaeological evidence,” Quillca said, according to La Vanguardia.
The YouTuber arrived in the southern Andean region of Huancavelica in December to explore areas with rock paintings, caves at 4,000 meters altitude, and places where offerings are made, but faced backlash for his actions at the archaeological site, reported RPP Noticias. In one of the caves he accessed, called Cerro Gorila, Ibai Rider encountered exposed skulls and human bones, further fueling the controversy surrounding his actions, according to Milenio.
Locals consider La Tumba de los Gentiles a sacred place and avoid approaching or profaning it, as they believe the bones still retain the power of the ancient gentiles, which could cause diseases to those who come near, as per La República. According to oral tradition and the mythological account of local elders, these remains belong to the gentiles, a civilization prior to the Incas that possessed magical powers, reported El Comercio.
Archaeologist Sheila Rojas explained that the presence of gases in decomposed remains and the lack of personal protective equipment represent risks for both researchers and visitors, emphasizing the importance of using a mask to avoid damaging future radiocarbon dating, according to La República. La Tumba de los Gentiles houses bone remains, textiles, and ropes that date back to pre-Incan times and is considered a sacred space by locals, stated La República.
Despite the controversy and reactions, Ibai Rider did not issue any public statement, intensifying the criticisms against him, as reported by La República. Many people have qualified Ibai Rider’s act as disrespectful, and his actions have put the protection of Peruvian cultural heritage and irresponsible tourism at the center of the debate, according to La República.
The controversy escalated rapidly, with petitions for a formal investigation by the Ministry of Culture of Peru regarding Ibai Rider’s actions, which are seen as attacks on pre-Hispanic archaeological monuments, as per La República. However, the Ministry of Culture of Peru did not yet issue an official statement about the incident, according to El Comercio.
This was not the first time La Tumba de los Gentiles was visited by content creators. Three years ago, YouTubers Franz and Epicrol, originally from Peru, also entered the site, but on that occasion there was a lesser amount of criticism, reported La República. Franz and Epicrol’s attitude of respect towards local traditions, including rituals prior to entry, earned them a different reception from the community and was interpreted as an act of respect towards the place and its cultural significance, stated El Comercio.
Although Franz and Epicrol’s visit was better perceived, experts warned that even these practices can be harmful to the preservation of heritage, and some specialists in archaeology recommended avoiding such practices to ensure the preservation of sites for future research, reported El Comercio. “In the case of Epicrol, not only because it would be a presumably repetitive conduct over time, but mainly for disseminating it in media to promote such illicit activity,” said Aaron Alemán, according to El Comercio.
The Huancavelica region, situated in the heart of the Peruvian Andes, has several cultural sites open to the public and others that have not yet been completely explored, including areas of rock paintings and caves at 4,000 meters altitude, according to El Comercio. La Tumba de los Gentiles is known to hold historical remains of a pre-Incan civilization and is considered a sacred space by locals, with archaeologist Sheila Rojas stating that it seems to have been chosen to dispose of bodies as an offering to the apus, making it a kind of religious cemetery, as per El Comercio.
“It is outrageous that our heritage is used for sensationalist purposes. These actions deserve an immediate investigation,” a user on X expressed, demanding immediate legal sanctions, as per La República.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq
This article was originally published at www.jpost.com
