Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-ir) -- Peru's Andina news agency reported yesterday that two U.S. scientists were honored and awarded for their extensive study and revealing information about the technological advances pre-Hispanic civilizations made in Peru.

Kenneth Wright and his wife Ruth, authors of several books about Peru, were awarded for the research done and the detailed information they gave on the water engineering advances made by the Incas.

Peru's Chancellor, José Antonio García Belaunde presided over the meeting in which the couple was honored with the Merit for Distinguished Service Award in the Torre Tagle palace last night.

García Belaunde pointed out the important work the couple was doing in revealing the immense knowledge the Incas had when building Machu Picchu, Moray and Tipón. For instance, Kenneth and Ruth Wright helped write the book titled "Tipon: Water Engineering Masterpiece of the Inca Empire".

Kenneth Wright is a civil engineer and an honorary professor at the National University of Engineering and has a great interest in the engineering achievements reached by ancient civilizations. His interest in Machu Picchu began when his wife returned from an archaeological expedition to Peru in 1974.

Ruth Wright is a lawyer and has served in the Colorado Legislature. In addition, she is a known photographer and has contributed to writing books such as. "The Machu Picchu Guidebook: A Self-Guided Tour" and "Machu Picchu: A Civil Engineering Marvel".

The award was granted to the couple after more than 12 years of perseverant research in Machu Picchu, Tipón and Moray.