Chan Chan Archaeological Zone

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Chan Chan is the largest Pre-Columbian city in South America. It was constructed by the Chimor (the kingdom of the Chimú). The vast mud city of Chan Chan was built between c.850 and c.1470 and was the imperial capital until Chimor was conquered by the Inca in the 15th century. It is estimated that 30,000 people lived in the city of Chan Chan.

Year	Decision	Comments
1986	Inscribed	Reasons for inscription
1986	In Danger	Conservation, restoration and management measures to be taken. Control the plundering of the site

Reviews

Rob Wilson (UK): Another magnificent Peruvian WHS! And I get to review it first! Hurray! Childish crowing on my part aside, this is another excellent place to visit. The entry fees are cheap and good value as well. Chan Chan is an amazing place, and is absolutely enormous. I believe that at one time it was the biggest city on the planet, but that would need to be checked. To be honest, much of the site is in complete ruins and is nothing more than large piles of mud. However, the Tschudi Palace is being constantly restored and gives a wonderful idea of how magnificent this city must have been. I'm no expert but the restoration work seems to be going along sensitively and successfully, and this is one site where it is a case of restore it as much as possible, or lose it completely. The El Nino effect has clearly caused a massive amount of damage to the site (and it finished off Chan Chan as a living city). I do not know why it is on the 'in danger' list but I guess it is for two reasons. One is El Nino - this is a situation that will never change. The second is probably the vast amounts of refuse that seem to be piling up around the outside of the city itself. This is something that seriously needs to be addressed. Visitors to Chan Chan should also check out the nearby Huaco De La Sol and Huaco De La Luna. An incredible site that definately should be on the WH list, and created more of an impact than Chan Chan.

Date posted: July 2008

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• Chan Chan Archaeological Zone
• Country: Peru
• Inscribed: 1986
• In Danger
• Cultural Heritage
  Criteria:  (1) (3)
• Category: Archaeological site, Pre-Columbian
• Period:
• Connections: Francisco Pizarro . Global Heritage Fund . Located in a Former Capital . Mud / Earth Architecture . Pacific Ocean . Pre-Inca cultures . Qhapaq Nan (Inca) . WHS Hotspot .
  
  News and links:
  » Peru Teens Vandalize Cultural Site Chan Chan, Upload Misdeeds to YouTube (10-01-2010).
  » Peru invests S/1.5 million to restore world's largest mud city: Cristobal Campana, head of the Chan Chan conservation team, indicated that uncommon climatological conditions have generated sporadic and intense rain this year, destroying dome of the site's mud walls. After studying the damage, the Peruvian government decided to designate S/1.5 million (US$465,000) to protect the Tschudi Palace, and the Esmeralda and Arco Iris ruins which are all located withing the UNESCO World Heritage Site. (01-05-2007).
  » Chan Chan, the Melting City of the Chimu.
  
  
  
  

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