Sharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano Julio C. Tello / Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello

This book is good for older elementary school students. It is about a man named Julio who has a passion for discovery and looking at things. It is about his journey in becoming someone who looks at fossils and researches things. I really think this is great for growing into what you believe you are made for. I would use this book in my classroom when we are talking about culture and research because it has so much representation.

Almost #OwnVoices, and sufficiently important that it should be considered to supplement those lists and collections, imo. Illustrations charm, and text floored me. Even though this hero's discoveries are a century old, I had no idea about them. Half a century ago, the grade school still taught me South American history with a focus on the conquistadors, and the only Peru I've ever known is Machu Picchu. Ok, something about the crossing of the Bering Strait and the spread of the Clovis point, but nothing like what's revealed here. What's introduced here, if explored, would seem to be even more interesting that ancient Egyptian culture.

(Speaking of which, I've never learned how that developed. They had pyramids, gold, mummies, etc.... show more which came full-blown? Hmpf.) show less

This is an incredibly cool picture book biography about Peruvian archaeologist Julian C. Tello, a.k.a. Sharuko ("brave" in Quechua), who was born in Perú in 1880. He studied archaeology and made many discoveries, proving that Indigenous cultures were older than anyone had thought.

Text is in both English and Spanish.

Back matter includes a photograph, afterword, illustrator's note, and author's sources. Facing the title page is a map of Perú.

From the Afterword:
"Many archaeologists have also interpreted ancient Indigenous cultures through an exclusively Western lens. Julian C. Tello made it his life's work to change this dynamic. As an Indigenous Peruvian and Quechua speaker, he told the story of Peru's past from a Native show more perspective."

See also: My Name is Gabriela show less

This book, told in both English and Spanish on adjoining pages, tells the story of Julio Tello, born in Peru in 1880. Julio came from an Indigenous Quechua-speaking family. The nickname Julio acquired as a child, “Sharuko,” is the Quechua word for “brave.” He loved to explore the caves and burial grounds he found in the foothills of the Andes. The author writes: “Nothing scared Sharuko, not even the skulls he and his brothers uncovered in ancient tombs.”

Julio did well in school, and his aunt helped pay for him to further his education in Lima. He also worked side jobs to help pay. One of them was in a surgeon’s office, and what he learned there inspired him to study medicine at the university. Furthermore, he decided to show more devote his medical skills to the study of the Indigenous history of Peru.

After graduating, Julio came to the US to attend Harvard University and study anthropology and archaeology. He eventually returned to Peru to work as an archaeologist at the Museum of Natural History in Lima. He also discovered an archaeological site helping prove that the Indigenous Peruvian culture at Chavin had not been imported from elsewhere, but was native to his ancestors. He found similar evidence at an Indigenous Paracas site.

Julio died in 1947. The author observes: “He was the first and greatest Indigenous archaeologist of Peru, and he is still beloved by Peruvians.”

The book concludes with an Afterword by the author, an Illustrator’s Note, and a list of sources.

The author, as well as illustrator Elisa Chavarri, are both Peruvian Americans. Brown stated in an interview that “this project was very personal to us; we were both committed to representing Peruvian history and a great Peruvian hero in the way he deserved.”

Chavarri used brightly colored watercolor and gouache paintings with backgrounds that include Indigenous images and motifs from the art and artifacts discovered by Julio Tello..

Evaluation: Most archeological information for American audiences comes from discoveries in the Middle East. This book provides a nice contrast, as well as a broader perspective about where the world’s knowledge comes from. show less

Sharuko used to explore caves and burial grounds. He has huge pride in his Peruvian people and the history of his country. He goes off and studies at many prestigious locations and becomes a doctor, studying medical, anthropology and archeology. He eventually heads back to Peru where he makes some incredible archaeological discoveries and becomes the new director of the Museum of Anthropology (first indigenous archaeologist of Peru).

Primary, (1st-4th)

This book was the story of a young boy who grew up to become an archeologist. His goal was to make sure everyone knew about Peru's heritage and what they were like, not based on the Spanish stories but from his historical and ancestors stories.

This book is a good book to read to students to show different cultures and that just what you hear doesn't make it true. It shows how when we hear stories from people who live in the culture it is different from what we hear in America and we are able to know the true story.

Gr 3–6—After a childhood of exploring the foothills of the Andes, Julio C. Tello (aka Sharuko) became the first
Indigenous archaeologist in America and a champion for Native Peruvians. Engaging illustration