The Compass: Peru's hallucinogenic booze and royal secrets

Within the mountains of Peru lies a wealth of ancient Inca temples, dramatic landscapes, and breathtaking Andean vistas.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  

 

SEE BELOW, CAN YOU GUESS THE RIGHT ANSWER? VIEW ONLINE

SEE BELOW, CAN YOU GUESS THE RIGHT ANSWER?

THE COMPASS

This week's virtual field trip takes us to Peru. Within the mountains of Peru lies a wealth of ancient Inca temples, dramatic landscapes, and breathtaking Andean vistas. Learn about these stingless bees that make medicinal honey that some call a "miracle liquid," discover how ancient mummies helped a soccer player get to the World Cup, and join the high-altitude quest to save alpacas.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANA ELISA SOTELO These stingless bees make medicinal honey. Some call it a ‘miracle liquid.’ In the Peruvian Amazon, native stingless bees are helping beekeepers and their communities by producing honey and pollinating local plants. SWEET HEALING

PHOTOGRAPH BY KENNETH GARRETT, MUSEO NACIONAL DE ARQUELOGIA ANTROPOLOGIA E HISTORIA PERU Did hallucinogenic booze fuel politics in ancient Peru? A discovery in a 1,100-year-old Wari outpost suggests that powerful, communal intoxicants may have helped foster alliances. POLITICAL PUNCH

PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBBIE JAY BARRATT, AMA VIA GETTY IMAGES How ancient mummies helped this soccer player get to the World Cup After Paolo Guerrero tested positive for cocaine, scientists used Inca mummies to argue that the result may have been influenced by something else. 500-YEAR-OLD EVIDENCE

ARCHAEOLOGISTS WORKING IN A 750-YEAR-OLD CITY RECENTLY DISCOVERED A SERIES OF WOODEN STATUES "PRESERVED" IN WHICH OF THESE? A. SNAKE PEE B. HUMAN SPIT C. TERMITE POOP CLICK TO SEE IF YOU'RE RIGHT!

NEWSCOM / ALAMY / ACI An intact tomb revealed royal secrets of an ancient people in Peru Centuries before the Inca rose to power, the Wari ruled the coastal highlands of Peru. Many of their sites had been looted over the centuries. but a rare intact tomb gave rich insights into this mysterious civilization. FILLING IN THE BLANKS

GOOD READS

1. Meet the men who literally dance with scissors 2. These stunning pictures revealed Machu Picchu to the world 3. Gold is a toxic lure in the world’s highest settlement 4. This suspension bridge is made from grass

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALESSANDRO CINQUE The high-altitude quest to save alpacas The once-verdant mountain pastures where alpacas graze are drying out from climate change; scientists, herders, and activists are rallying to find solutions. HELP IS ON THE WAY

WHERE WILL WE JOURNEY TO NEXT? Be sure to check your inbox next week to find out.

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