Reviews: Atlas Historico, Geografico, y de Paisajes Peruanos

Summary

This paper presents a comparative review of two major cartographic reference works: the monumental Atlas Histórico y Geográfico del Perú, and the Archaeological Atlas of the World by David and Ruth Whitehouse. The review first details the Peruvian atlas’s seven-year collaborative preparation under Carlos Peñaherrera de Aguila, involving numerous historians, geographers, and institutions. The resulting oversize volume (90 x 42 cm) is described as the most comprehensive cartographic collection on Peru of its generation. The atlas is divided into five sections: historical cartography including classic map reproductions; contemporary national coverage spanning physiography, climate, economy, health, and education; uniform departmental maps with city plans and photographs; frontier studies; and a landscape photography section. Its loose-leaf binding allows individual map removal, compensating for bulk. The reviewer praises its accuracy, clarity, and presentation, recommending it as an indispensable reference, though noting that economic and social data will date and suggesting periodic replacement sheets. The paper then compares the Whitehouse archaeological atlas to a similar earlier work edited by Jacquetta Hawkes. Where Hawkes’ atlas groups sites under 17 geographical headings with individual site commentaries, the Whitehouse volume is organized into seven sections with regional/chronological subdivisions, each accompanied by brief textual notes and no separate site commentaries. The reviewer highlights these distinct editorial approaches, concluding that both atlases are complementary and valuable for anyone interested in world archaeology. Overall, the review underscores the lasting scholarly utility of comprehensive thematic atlases while acknowledging their inevitable need for updating.