Ann Kendall

For 40 years Ann was director of the Cusichaca Trust with her Honorary status as a Research Associate of the Institute of Archaeology being her primary academic affiliation.  Ann completed an MA in Interdisciplinary Archaeology in 1970 at the University of California, Los Angeles and then studied for her PhD at the Institute with Warwick Bray, culminating in an influential thesis on Inca Architecture. 

In 1977 she established the Cusichaca Archaeological Project which became one of the largest multi-disciplinary projects in the Peruvian Andes.  The Cusichaca Archaeological Project provided a formative experience for many who have gone on to lead commercial archaeology, research and heritage work in Peru, the UK, USA and beyond.   Ann continued to work in Peru, through sometimes turbulent periods, for over 40 years establishing and directing the Cusichaca Trust.  With Ann’s enthusiasm and guidance, the Cusichaca Trust undertook archaeology, ecology, ethnography and rural development work with innovative forms of community engagement.

Rural development work became the main focus of the Cusichaca Trust which continued an inspirational range of activities particularly focusing on the investigation and rehabilitation of ancient agricultural systems.  This work benefited from, and contributed to, many communities in Peru (particularly in the areas around the departments of Cuzco, Apurimac and Ayacucho).  Ann was most proud and passionate about her rural development initiatives and she published about these as well as her archaeological research. 

The Cusichaca Archive, incorporating the papers, photographs, plans etc. from the work of both the Cusichaca Archaeological Project and the Cusichaca Trust, is now being catalogued and made accessible through the Senate House Library, University of London where it will be available for future researchers. 

Ann was awarded the Order of Merit by the Peruvian Government in 1980 and in 1994 received an OBE for her contribution to overseas development work.  In recent years Ann was living in Spain with developing dementia, supported by her son Paul. 

According to Bill Sillar:

“Ann was a vital force who brought people together and, through her own enthusiasm and commitment, persuaded them to contribute to her unique combination of archaeological research and development work. She’d like us to raise a glass (or two), have a dance, and then get back to work.

Our thoughts go out to her family at this difficult time.

In Memoriam

• The Times (£)
• Senate House Library