A Story behind the Map: The Strange Life of Maps and Their Makers

There are maps that do not attract attention at first glance; they do not show sensational discoveries, nor are they equipped with impressive cartouches. What makes them important is the story behind them. The article presents a case study of a manuscript map of the Huayabamba Valley (Peru), from 1913, which is kept in the Royal Geographical Society’s Collection. Created on the basis of a Peruvian American expedition, this map hides three exceptional stories. The first one refers to what the cartographer unexpectedly mapped, while the other two reveal how strange the circulation and consumption of a map can be. In the analysis of the map, an innovative processual approach was applied, in which mapping is understood as a process consisting of three equally important phases: production, circulation and consumption, thus investigating participants involved, purpose of mapping, places (the physical sites of maps’ circulation), and practices (strategies and techniques). The post-colonial nature of geographical knowledge and the role of indigenous intermediaries are particularly considered. In this regard, the article offers an example of alternative readings of the map within complex relationships between society, personal history, local conditions, and the holding institutions.