A famous archeological site in Peru, where authorities have been conducting excavation work for an extended period, has been found vandalized with obscene graffiti, prompting a police investigation.
On the 13th local time, Peru’s Ministry of Culture released a statement revealing that someone had spray-painted images of male genitalia in black aerosol on the walls of the Chan Chan site in the La Libertad region.
At least three sections of walls have been confirmed to be damaged. A video has surfaced on social media showing a person, presumed to be a man, carrying a backpack and committing the act of vandalism.
Local authorities have condemned the act as a severe disrespect to a cultural heritage that is over 600 years old, describing it as “horrendous” and emphasizing their cooperation with police to identify the suspect.
The Ministry of Culture of Peru has started work to restore the site as much as possible with the help of experts.
Chan Chan is known as the largest city that flourished in South America before encounters with European civilizations. It is estimated by scholars to have had a population of about 30,000 in the 15th century. Currently, it is located approximately 5 kilometers west of Trujillo.
Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986, Chan Chan is an archeological site where the Peruvian government is committed to prolonged work on artifact excavation and restoration, akin to Machu Picchu, a jewel of the Incan civilization.
Considering ongoing constructions, such as highway developments in the vicinity of the Chan Chan site, the Peruvian government is contemplating strengthening protective measures, including the installation of large-scale perimeter fences.
Previously in Peru, vandals have targeted cultural properties, such as the ’12-Angled Stone’ in Cusco, which is considered part of Incan heritage, resulting in damage caused by a local man’s thoughtless actions. Instances of vandalism targeting cultural properties continue to be reported.
In response, Peruvian authorities are intensifying their preservation efforts and actively seeking to adopt site preservation technologies from other countries.
Last month, Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation in the field of cultural heritage exchange, preparing to assist in the assessment of safety, damage prevention measures, digitalization, and restoration of the historic site of Machu Picchu.