With great sorrow, we received the news of the passing of archaeologist and architect Dr. Giuseppe Orefici Pecci, which occurred in Brescia, his hometown, on June 27 of this year. At the Center for Pre-Columbian Archaeological Studies (CEAP) and the Board of Trustees supporting the CEAP, we are deeply saddened not only by the loss of a beloved friend but also of an exceptional figure.
A tireless traveler, steadfast and selfless in his pursuit of historical data, evidence, and traces of ancient civilizations, Giuseppe Orefici dedicated more than forty uninterrupted years to the recovery of the imposing ceremonial citadel of Cahuachi and to the creation of the Antonini Museum.
While these are monumental achievements, they represent only a portion of his career as an archaeologist. Throughout his fruitful life, Giuseppe carried out an extraordinary and wide-ranging body of work across the five continents. This will be recounted in a book soon to be published as a tribute and expression of gratitude.
Today, however, we are left without words to express the depth of our sorrow. We can only mourn his untimely departure and commit ourselves to preserving and defending the legacy Giuseppe Orefici has left us.
In his final months, Giuseppe insisted on the need for the Nasca—the creators of the ceremonial center of Cahuachi, the lines, and the aqueducts—to have “their own page in History.”
In any case, Giuseppe Orefici Pecci already holds a place of honor in that History and in our memory.
Rest in peace, dear Giuseppe.
Patronato del Centro de Estudios Arqueológicos Precolombinos
