Woman scatters ashes at Machu Picchu, sparking outrage and legal action

A recent incident at Machu Picchu sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for the preservation of the historic sanctuary. An unidentified woman was filmed scattering what appears to be human ashes on one of the terraces of the famed Inca citadel. The video, originally shared by the TikTok account "IncaGo Expeditions" and later removed, went viral on social media, generating a wave of critical comments and concern about the preservation of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the footage, the woman, dressed in a black shirt, blue pants, and beige sneakers, is seen carrying a transparent plastic bag containing the ashes. She spreads the powder on one of the terraces, ensuring all remnants are released by folding the plastic before leaving. After emptying the bag, she bows and embraces another person, all of which was captured in the video. The act was accompanied by a melancholic melody and the phrase: "A farewell full of love in Machu Picchu," along with the hashtags #cenizas (ashes) and #esparcircenizas (scatter ashes).

The Commission of Jurists of Cusco denounced the act as a possible attack on the Cultural Heritage of the Nation and has requested that measures be taken regarding the incident. The commission warned that throwing ashes at the famous archaeological site constitutes a violation of the norms that protect this site of world value. Lawyer T'ika Luiza Obregón emphasized that archaeological areas "are not repositories of any type of ashes, much less of a deceased person," highlighting the disrespectful nature of the act.

Obregón considered the incident could be "a way to promote the scattering of ashes of the deceased in Machu Picchu and archaeological zones," which would aggravate the infraction. She highlighted the need to determine whether the action was carried out by an individual or if it was backed by an agency, as this would influence the severity of the sanctions. Obregón also pointed out that the surveillance and security of Machu Picchu, including personnel from the Directorate of Culture of Cusco and security cameras, should have intervened. It corresponds to the Directorate of Culture of Cusco to file the criminal complaint regarding the incident.

Social media commentators were highly critical. "Let the full weight of the law fall on whoever did that act, there was no respect for Machu Picchu," "What is the need to do it in a universal jewel like Machu Picchu?" "They even recorded it," "It's an archaeological site, it's not a dirt yard," "The sanctuary must be respected," and "It's a sacred place, a historic sanctuary, it's a place that should be respected as if it were your home."

Sources: La República, El Mercurio, Milenio, BioBioChile

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq