Photo Gallery

When the head of a community in Cuzco goes somewhere, he is accompanied by the ‘pututeros’, young people who are given the task of blowing into large sea shells. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Depuis trois mille ans ou davantage encore, 1'Indien de la Vallée sacrée des Incas et de toutes les Andes, pour appeler hommes et dieux, souffle dans le pututo, grosse conque marine du Pacifique, le Spondylus au son rauque.

The picture shows traditional Peruvian Andean inhabitants holding so-called pututos (ceremonial wind instruments made from large sea shells) in their hands. The pututo is a prepared conch shell (often Lobatus galeatus) that has been used in the Andes since pre-Columbian times. The instrument produces a very loud, deep sound and was originally used to gather communities, send signals over long distances or initiate sacred rituals. The people are wearing typical, hand-woven Peruvian ponchos with fringes and traditional legwear. – Inti Raymi in Cusco – Peru – 1976

The clothing, the hats and the playing of the pututo conch shell are deeply rooted in the vibrant culture of the Cusco region and are still proudly displayed there today at festivals and receptions. The pututo is a traditional wind instrument made from a large sea snail, which has been used in the Andes since Inca times for ceremonies, rituals and long-distance communication. – This photograph dates from 1969 and was taken in Ollantaytambo. The person behind the player is an alcalde (mayor) with his staff, the varayoc, which translates as ‘the lord of the staff’. – Peru – 1969