Chan Chan: a giant desert fortress of the Chimu tribe (10 photos + 1 video)

The Incas are one of the most famous pre-Columbian civilizations that flourished in Peru. However, before their meteoric rise to fame, Peru was home to many other remarkable cultures that are rarely discussed or given the attention they deserve in historical studies today.





The Kingdom of Chimor is one such civilization. Before the arrival of the Incas, it was the largest civilization in Peru. It was involved in the construction of one of the most magnificent cities in South America, Chan Chan.



The ancient city of Chan Chan, which translates to the rather pretentious "Sun of the Sun," is located about 10 minutes' drive from the northern Peruvian city of Trujillo in the once fertile Moche and Santa Catalina river valley. Built in 850, it fell to the Inca Empire in 1470. Not only was Chan Chan the capital of the Kingdom of Chimor, it was also the largest metropolis in pre-Columbian South America. Perhaps more significant, it is one of the world's largest adobe cities.





At its height in the 1200s, Chan Chan covered an area of ​​about 20 square kilometers, with the city center being 6 kilometers. The entire city, from the grandest temples to the humblest hovels, was built entirely of sun-dried mud bricks. The entire city was covered in impressive relief carvings, sculptures, and wall paintings.



Chan Chan is the embodiment of the strict political and social strategy of the Chimu. This can be judged by the layout. The center of Chan Chan consists of nine huge rectangular complexes, known as citadels or palaces, which were protected by powerful thick adobe walls. In the open area inside these complexes, various structures were built. Among them were temples, residential buildings and storage rooms. In addition, reservoirs and burial platforms were built in the fortresses.



The central part contains 32 monumental buildings and four industrial sectors, where they weaved, forged and worked with wood. The northern, eastern and western areas of the city are mainly rural farms and the preserved irrigation system. As a result, it can be concluded that Chan Chan had a clear hierarchy, in which the urban core was supplied with industrial goods from the surrounding areas and agricultural products from the farmlands.



Francisco Pizarro and his men, who arrived around 1532, were the first Europeans to see the magnificent city of Chan Chan.

Since then, the city has been plundered by Spanish treasure hunters and their modern counterparts, the huaqueros – grave robbers. Chan Chan's walls and other architectural features are mentioned in Pizarro's expedition reports as being studded with precious metals. For example, Pedro Pizarro, one of Francisco's relatives, discovered a door covered in silver that is worth over $2 million today.



While treasure hunters pose a serious threat to Chan Chan, they are not the worst threat.

The biggest threat to Chan Chan comes from the outside world, as the city is built entirely of adobe. As a result, heavy rains, floods, and strong winds gradually destroy the clay city's structures.



During the Chimor Kingdom, El Niño occurred every 25-50 years, which led to quite serious destruction in Chan Chan. In the modern climate, the frequency of this phenomenon has increased, which poses an even greater danger to the site.



Despite the fact that erosion has increased, archaeologists are making every effort to preserve it. For example, awnings are installed in different places of the city to protect it from precipitation. Some architectural elements are treated with a solution of distilled water and cactus juice, while others are photographed and then covered for protection. However, in the end, these measures may not be enough. And the unique ancient city will one day merge with the earth, like the ancient civilization that once created this wonder.