Peru
Chavin
The archeological site of Chavin de Huantar was a sanctuary and pilgrimage site of the early pre-Columbian society of Chavin.
The cult complex is located in a high valley in the Andes. It consists of temples, a number of terraces and squares and a network of underground galleries. The Castillo is the main temple; it was decorated with sculptured cornerstones - the famous "Cabezas clavas" of which one is still in situ. Furthermore, there are zoomorphic bas-relief sculptures and sculpted megaliths.
Community Perspective: “Fresh mountain air, few tourists and, of course, a great site with a nice museum”. The underground galleries and chambers are the most fascinating aspects. Chavin can be reached from Huaraz on a public bus, with private transport, or on a tour.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Chavin (Archaeological Site) (ID: 330)
- Country
- Peru
- Status
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Inscribed 1985
Site history
History of Chavin
- 1985: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- WHS Type
- Cultural
- Criteria
- iii
Links
- UNESCO
- whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- museos.cultura.pe — Museo Chavín
- stanford.edu — Link
News Article
- July 14, 2023 thenationalnews.com — Archaeologists in Peru find 3,000-year-old tunnel in mountain temple complex
- May 31, 2022 reuters.com — Archaeologists discover passageways in 3,000-year-old Peruvian temple
- May 2, 2016 peruthisweek.com — Did Chavín society create authoritarianism?
Community Information
- Community Category
- Archaeological site: Pre-Columbian
Travel Information
Recent Connections
View all (19) .Connections of Chavin
- Geography
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Andes
(3185mtrs) - "The archaeological site of Chavin gave its name to the culture that developed between the 15th and the 5th century BC in this high valley of the Peruvian Andes" (official description) -
Amazon Basin
At the headwaters of the Marañón River, a tributary of the Amazon -
Highest cultural WHS
3,180 m
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- History
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Archaeological 'Type Sites'
Chavin CultureSee www.indiana.edu
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Formative stage
Chavín de Huántar was constructed over many stages starting prior to 1200 BCE, with most major construction over by 750 BCE. (wiki) -
Located in a Former Capital
Capital of Chavin 900-400 BC -
Pre-Inca cultures
Chavin
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- Architecture
- Damaged
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Damaged by Landslide
In 1945, a good many of the monuments were covered up by a disastrous landslide -
Destroyed or damaged by Earthquake
1970
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- World Heritage Process
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Perfect Inscriptions
1985 -
Inscribed on a single criterion only
iii. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared
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- Human Activity
- Constructions
- WHS on Other Lists
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Global Heritage Fund
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U.S. Ambassadors Fund
Restoration of the Rocas Canal at the Ancient Site of Chavin de Huantar (2010)
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- Timeline
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Built in the 2nd Millennium BC
"This site gave its name to the culture of Chavln which developed roughly between 1500 and 300 B.C. (Carbon 14 analyses would indicate a starting date of ca. 1800)." (AB ev)
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- Science and Technology
News
- thenationalnews.com 07/14/2023
- Archaeologists in Peru find 3,000-…
- reuters.com 05/31/2022
- Archaeologists discover passageway…
- peruthisweek.com 05/02/2016
- Did Chavín society create authorit…
Recent Visitors
Visitors of Chavin
- Alberto Rodriguez Gutierrez
- Alejandro Lau
- Alexander Lehmann
- Allison Vies
- Ammon Watkins
- Ana
- Ari Kailash
- Atila Ege
- basementonline
- Beckyjzw
- Bin
- Carlo Sarion
- Carlos Sotelo
- cmtcosta
- CynthiaSam
- CynthiaW
- Daniela Hohmann
- Els Slots
- emvcaest
- Erik Jelinek
- Francky D'Hoop
- Frédéric M
- hotpickle
- Iain Jackson
- Jarek Pokrzywnicki
- Jay T
- Jens
- Joyce van Soest
- Juha Sjoeblom
- Kurt Lauer
- Little Lauren Travels
- liu tuo
- Loic Pedras
- Luis Filipe Gaspar
- marcel staron
- Michael anak Kenyalang
- Michael Ayers
- Michael Turtle
- Michal Marciniak
- Michiel Dekker
- MMM
- Monica Tasciotti
- Morodhi
- Nihal Ege
- Pascal Cauliez
- Patrik
- Pchxiao
- Philipp Peterer
- Ralf Regele
- Randi Thomsen
- Rob Wilson
- Roman Bruehwiler
- Sergio Arjona
- SHIHE HUANG
- sibariam
- Svein Elias
- Tevity
- Thibault Magnien
- Thomas Buechler
- Thomas van der Walt
- TimAllen
- Timonator
- Wojciech Fedoruk
- zfish
- Zoë Sheng