Chan Chan
Chan Chan
Peru · La Libertad
In brief
Chan Chan is the capital of the Chimú Kingdom, known for its adobe architecture. Excavations and conservation work are revealing its palaces, production areas, water systems, and burial practices.
What was found?
- 1Earthen walls with relief decoration
The walls feature decorations depicting geometric forms, humans, and animals. They show that earthen architecture also served as a surface for symbolic expression.
- 2Palaces and burial platforms
Large compounds enclosed by high walls contain residences, temples, storerooms, and burial platforms. They show that administration, storage, and commemoration were organized within the same compound.
- 3Human remains at Utzh An
Disarticulated skeletal remains belonging to 11 individuals were found during restoration work. Ornaments found alongside them help researchers investigate these individuals' social status.
- 4Three pairs of ear ornaments
Three pairs of ear ornaments associated with the human remains were recovered. According to researchers, these may be connected with individuals holding high administrative positions.
- 5Beads and Spondylus necklaces
Beads and two necklaces made with Spondylus shells were recorded in the same group of finds. Researchers associate these ornaments with high social status.
What does it point to?
Chan Chan's separate palace compounds indicate a distinct social hierarchy and planned administration. Storerooms, production areas, and irrigation remains show that this capital organized both craft and agricultural production.
What did it teach us?
- Showed that social hierarchy became visible in the Chimú city plan through walls and separate functional areas.
- Documented that life in the capital depended on systems of production, storage, and water management.
- According to researchers, the Utzh An finds added new evidence for the relationship between high administrative status and personal ornaments.
Images
Latest news / selected archive
In 2024, work on the eastern perimeter wall of the Utzh An complex uncovered the bones of 11 individuals, along with ear ornaments and necklaces.
Record
- Culture
- Chimú
- Team / historical
- Chan Chan Archaeological Complex Special Project; Sinthya Cueva for the work at Utzh An
- Coordinates
- -8.1078°, -79.0747°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Huaca de la Luna 10 km
- El Brujo Archaeological Complex 33 km
- Huaca Rajada-Sipán 156 km
- Chankillo Archaeoastronomical Complex 185 km
- Chavín de Huántar 266 km
- Sacred City of Caral-Supe 353 km
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- 12.000
From beneath the soil: latest discoveries
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Arkeofili ↗ - Object from a 5,300-year-old grave in Russia identified as a kidney stone
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Arkeofili ↗ - 3,000-year-old bronze objects found during battlefield survey in Hungary
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Heritage Daily ↗ · Excavation notebook - Celtic woman's grave containing jewelry and animal remains found in Germany
A woman's skeleton, heavy bronze anklets, a sapropelite arm ring, and the remains of a lamb or kid were found in the grave in Bavaria. According to the researchers, placing the animal in the grave as a food offering represents an unusual example of Celtic funerary practices in the region.
Arkeofili ↗ - Cupboard containing personal belongings, childhood amulets and coins found in Pompeii
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Arkeofili ↗ · Excavation notebook
All excavation sites (395)
Türkiye
- Acemhöyük
- Aizanoi
- Alabanda
- Alacahöyük
- Amos
- Ani
- Aphrodisias
- Arslantepe Mound
- Aspendos
- Assos
- Ayanis Fortress
- Aşıklı Höyük
- Barcın Höyük
- Blaundus
- Boncuklu Höyük
- Can Hasan I
- Carchemish
- Claros Sanctuary
- Clazomenae
- Domuztepe
- Ephesus
- Euromus
- Gordion
- Göbekli Tepe
- Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia
- Hattusha
- Hierapolis
- Iasos
- Kaman-Kalehöyük
- Karahantepe
- Karatepe-Aslantaş
- Kaunos
- Kibyra
- Knidos
- Kültepe-Kanesh
- Laodicea on the Lycus
- Letoon Sanctuary
- Limyra
- Magnesia on the Maeander
- Medieval City of Beçin
- Metropolis in Ionia
- Miletus
- Myra
- Nemrut Dağ
- Nysa on the Maeander
- Olympus in Lycia
- Oymaağaç Höyük — Nerik
- Patara
- Pergamon
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Priene
- Sagalassos
- Sanctuary of Apollo at Didyma
- Sanctuary of Labraunda
- Sapinuwa
- Sardis
- Sayburç
- Side
- Stratonikeia
- Tell Atchana – Alalakh
- Teos
- Tripolis on the Meander
- Troy
- Uluburun Shipwreck
- Xanthos
- Yenikapı – Theodosian Harbour Excavations
- Yeşilova Höyük
- Yumuktepe
- Zerzevan Castle
- Zeugma
- Zincirli Höyük — Sam'al
- Çatalhöyük
- Çavuştepe Fortress
- Çayönü
- Çukuriçi Höyük
