Chan Chan is an ancient pre-Columbian city built by the Chimú culture. This amazing archaeological site is located near the Peruvian city of Trujillo in the La Libertad region.
Contents
Chan Chan Archaeological Complex
Its name means Splendor Sun and it is a pre-Columbian city built by the Chimúes. It is considered the largest adobe city (unbaked bricks, made from a mass of mud) in America. In its splendor, it covered around 20 square km and is believed to have had a population of more than 40,000 people, being the center of a vast network of trade and tribute.
Chan Chan is a surprising archaeological site because it is actually a set of ten citadels, each dedicated to a ruler of the dynasty. The walls of the buildings, which, as we said, are made of adobe bricks, were decorated with clay reliefs, with floral, zoomorphic or mythological motifs, many of which can still be seen.
Each of the ten citadels contains temples, homes, warehouses, cemeteries, gardens and cisterns.
The Royal Citadel Nik An
The Nik An citadel (you will also find it as the Tschudi palace) is located in the center of the archaeological complex of Chan Chan, between the Chayhuac and Chol An citadels. The enclosure consisted of large ceremonial and residential spaces, audience halls, warehouses and the ruler’s tomb. It had a single entrance door and high walls of up to twelve meters, for better defense. All made of adobe and decorated with beautiful reliefs.
The importance of water
The Nik An walled complex constitutes the greatest illustration of the importance that water had for the Chimú civilization, and particularly the sea. It is common to see high reliefs that represent fish, directed towards the north and south (which can be interpreted as representative of the two currents that mark the Peruvian coast: the cold Humboldt current, which comes from the south, and the warm El Niño current. , which comes from the north), waves, rombitos (fishing nets), as well as pelicans and anzumitos (mixture of sea lion and otter).
The courtrooms
Chan Chan is a surprising archaeological site also for constructions such as these rooms that, seen from above, have a “U” shape and are believed to have housed officials or figures linked to the most important administrative functions of the city.
Chan Chan Site Museum
Before exploring the archaeological site, it is advisable to visit its museum, where you can learn about Chimú history and culture. Artifacts found at the site are displayed here. If you want more information, the museum has its official website.
You may also like…
A relatively short distance away are other archaeological sites of interest such as the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna and the Huaca El Brujo.
FAQ
How can I get to Chan Chan?
From Lima by bus it is between 10 to 12 hours of travel.
From Trujillo, by bus or taxi in the direction of Huanchaco. The trip takes about 15 minutes.
You can visit the site on your own by paying the entrance fee but we recommend hiring a local guide to get a more enriching experience and better understand the historical and cultural importance of this incredible archaeological site.
