Peruvians from the Huinchiri community are rebuilding an ancient Incan hanging bridge. They are using the same traditional weaving techniques used to build the bridge 500 years ago. The Q’eswachaka bridge communities are divided by the Apurimac river in the Cusco region. The most recent bridge had been used for more than half a century. But during the COVID-19 pandemic it was neglected. It collapsed in March. Members of the affected communities, like the Huinchiri, decided to rebuild the 30-meter long bridge. They are building it using the traditional Incan style: by weaving it. Teams of workers started from both sides of the river. They balanced on large main ropes stretched over the water. Working towards the center, they placed smaller ropes as barriers between the handrail ropes and the bridge’s floor. Jean Paul Benavente is the governor of Cusco. “Last year because of the pandemic, it wasn’t strengthened ... That is why at the beginning of this year the bridge fell,” he said. “But now it is like an answer to the pandemic itself. Benavente said that the rebuilding means “we can tell the world that we are coming out if this little by little.” In 2013, UNESCO recognized the skills and traditions used to build the bridge as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Peru is rich in ancient culture. It has hundreds of places representing many cultures that date back thousands of years. The ancient Incan empire was in power when Spanish explorers arrived in the early 1500s. “The Q’eswachaka, this Incan living bridge, is really an expression and cultural manifestation,” Benavente added. This bridge “connects villages, but that also connects traditions and connects culture.”
Title: Peruvians Re-Weave 500-year-old Bridge
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/A.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Peruvians Re-Weave 500-year-old Bridge' data-article-id='5703'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='9271'>Peruvians from the Huinchiri community are rebuilding an ancient Incan hanging bridge. </span> <span data-start-time='9271' data-end-time='18333'>They are using the same traditional weaving techniques used to build the bridge 500 years ago.</span> <span data-start-time='18333' data-end-time='27500'>The Q’eswachaka bridge communities are divided by the Apurimac river in the Cusco region.</span> <span data-start-time='27500' data-end-time='33063'>The most recent bridge had been used for more than half a century. </span> <span data-start-time='33063' data-end-time='37646'>But during the COVID-19 pandemic it was neglected. </span> <span data-start-time='37646' data-end-time='40417'>It collapsed in March.</span> <span data-start-time='40417' data-end-time='49479'>Members of the affected communities, like the Huinchiri, decided to rebuild the 30-meter long bridge. </span> <span data-start-time='49479' data-end-time='56833'>They are building it using the traditional Incan style: by weaving it.</span> <span data-start-time='56833' data-end-time='62167'>Teams of workers started from both sides of the river. </span> <span data-start-time='62167' data-end-time='68042'>They balanced on large main ropes stretched over the water. </span> <span data-start-time='68042' data-end-time='78292'>Working towards the center, they placed smaller ropes as barriers between the handrail ropes and the bridge’s floor.</span> <span data-start-time='78292' data-end-time='82979'>Jean Paul Benavente is the governor of Cusco.</span> <span data-start-time='82979' data-end-time='88208'>“Last year because of the pandemic, it wasn’t strengthened ... </span> <span data-start-time='88208' data-end-time='93208'>That is why at the beginning of this year the bridge fell,” he said. </span> <span data-start-time='93208' data-end-time='98021'>“But now it is like an answer to the pandemic itself.</span> <span data-start-time='98021' data-end-time='108792'>Benavente said that the rebuilding means “we can tell the world that we are coming out if this little by little.”</span> <span data-start-time='108792' data-end-time='122771'>In 2013, UNESCO recognized the skills and traditions used to build the bridge as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.</span> <span data-start-time='122771' data-end-time='126292'>Peru is rich in ancient culture. </span> <span data-start-time='126292' data-end-time='133958'>It has hundreds of places representing many cultures that date back thousands of years. </span> <span data-start-time='133958' data-end-time='143021'>The ancient Incan empire was in power when Spanish explorers arrived in the early 1500s.</span> <span data-start-time='143021' data-end-time='153271'>“The Q’eswachaka, this Incan living bridge, is really an expression and cultural manifestation,” Benavente added. </span> <span data-start-time='153271' data-end-time='161688'>This bridge “connects villages, but that also connects traditions and connects culture.”</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/A.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=17611 data-hint-location='33063' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/what_does_it_mean_if_something_is_neglected.wav'>What does it mean if something is neglected?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='suffering a lack of proper care'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/improve_a_situation_or_problem.wav'><span>improve (a situation or problem)</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/suffering_a_lack_of_proper_care.wav'><span>suffering a lack of proper care</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/sad_and_depressed.wav'><span>sad and depressed</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/feeling_or_showing_admiration_or_respect_for_someone_or_something.wav'><span>feeling or showing admiration or respect for someone or something</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=17612 data-hint-location='49479' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/what_traditional_building_method_is_being_used_for_the_bridge.wav'>What traditional building method is being used for the bridge?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='weaving'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/weaving.wav'><span>weaving</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/bricklaying.wav'><span>bricklaying</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/ice_carving.wav'><span>ice carving</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/log_cabin.wav'><span>log cabin</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=17613 data-hint-location='122771' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/peru_is__blank__ancient_culture_.wav'>Peru is <span class='blank'>rich in</span> ancient culture. </div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='rich in'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5164/rich_in.wav'><span>rich in</span></div><div class='choice' 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