Arutam Wakam archeology exhibition center opened

Lundin Gold Statement

This is an automated translation of the press release issued in Spanish

With the vision of generating a space for education and dissemination of Zamora ancestral history and culture, Lundin Gold, the Canadian company that operates the Fruta del Norte (FDN) mine, located in the province of Zamora Chinchipe, and the National University of Loja ( UNL), through a cooperation agreement, implemented the Arutam Wakam Archeology Exhibition Center - Spirit of Our Ancestors, at the El Padmi Experimental Station of the UNL, located in the Los Encuentros parish, Yantzaza canton.

The Center aims to share with the community the results of the Archaeological Research Program carried out for more than 10 years around FDN, in the study area between the Machinaza River and the Zamora River.

This Program had the authorization and technical control of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC)-Zone 7.

The infrastructure has two areas: 1) FDN Information Room, focused on showing the processes that Lundin Gold applies in this large-scale gold mining operation 2) Machinaza Culture Room, which exhibits 74 unique archaeological pieces; between vessels, plant remains and food; monoliths, instruments for crushing rock, remains of metals such as gold, silver and copper, which demonstrate human activity in the region and date back more than 7,000 years.

For the launch of the Arutam Wakam Exhibition Center, Lundin Gold financed the adaptation, design, assembly and exhibition of the archaeological collection and the FDN Room; while the UNL will be in charge of management and administration for adequate preservation of the pieces. The Center will become a space for linking with its students who will be the guides of this site.

“The launch of the Arutam Wakam Center reiterates our commitment to preserving the identity, culture, customs, traditions and history of the communities near the Fruta del Norte mining operation,” said Ron Hochstein, President and CEO of Lundin Gold.

For her part, María Cristina Acosta, Director of Environment and Permits at Lundin Gold, indicated that “in August of this year, we published the book “Cultura Machinaza en la Cordillera del Cóndor. Between Mining and Archaeology”, which exposes the main results of our Archaeological Research Program. Now, the Exhibition Center will allow each of the visitors to know and discover what life was like 7,000 years ago in Zamora Chinchipe thanks to the discovery of archaeological pieces that demonstrate the development of activities such as: agriculture, spinning, mining, “rituality and interregional exchange of products.”

Julio Romero, Dean of the Faculty of Energy, Industries and Non-Renewable Natural Resources at UNL, highlighted that inter-institutional work makes it possible for the university to strengthen its ties with society. “The El Padmi Experimental Station, in addition to providing academic and research processes, today opens its doors to society so that they can learn about the processes of a mining operation, as well as the Machinaza culture through a modern and attractive Archeology Exhibition Center” .

For her part, Gabriela Cedillo, director of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage - Zonal 7, highlighted that the Arutam Wakam Center is a place that breathes history: “This space is a significant milestone that preserves and disseminates the invaluable cultural heritage. Through this place we will embark on a journey to understand, appreciate and transmit the stories of ancient civilizations. Thanks to Lundin Gold and the National University of Loja for this initiative. “Count on our support in the preservation process.”