According to BBC News, a wave of national and international outrage erupted after a man was filmed drawing a giant penis on one of the walls of the pre-Columbian fortress Chan Chan, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a 600-year history in Peru. The act was widely condemned as a grave disrespect to cultural heritage.
Videos widely shared on social media show the perpetrator unchallenged as he carried a bag and spray-painted the obscene image on the ancient adobe walls of Chan Chan, raising concerns about the security measures in place at the archaeological complex.
According to BBC News, the Ministry of Culture of Peru condemned the act of vandalism, calling it a "serious insult to our history and cultural heritage" and stating that it constitutes a "serious lack of respect towards historical and cultural heritage." "We are actively cooperating with the police to identify the suspect's identity," local authorities said, as reported by Adevarul.
Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimú Kingdom, which extended along the coast of present-day Peru to Ecuador from 900 to 1450 CE before being incorporated into the Inca Empire. It is considered the largest planned city formed before Columbus discovered the American continent, with an estimated population of about 30,000 in the 15th century. The city included ten palaces, temples, residential buildings, and warehouses decorated with sculptures.
Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986, Chan Chan, along with the stone citadels of Machu Picchu and Caral, forms one of Peru's most important archaeological complexes. However, the site has faced challenges, including degradation due to attacks and deterioration.
Located approximately 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of Lima, Chan Chan attracts thousands of visitors every month. The recent incident has led many to question the site's security. Some Peruvians have expressed disappointment that Chan Chan was not better protected.
The spray paint attack on Chan Chan came just months after another act of vandalism in Cusco, where a drunken man damaged the famous Stone of the Twelve Angles, one of the most recognizable examples of Inca architecture and an artifact of great symbolic value.
Peru's Penal Code stipulates that those who attack cultural heritage can be sentenced to up to six years in prison and 365 days of fines. As of now, the perpetrator has not been identified.
In response to the incident, the Ministry of Culture of Peru mobilized experts to begin restoration work on the archaeological site. The authorities are also considering strengthening protective measures for Chan Chan. According to FN News, taking into account highway construction work nearby, they are reviewing plans to install boundary fences around the archaeological site.
Cases of vandalism targeting cultural heritage sites in Peru have been increasing, prompting authorities to enhance preservation efforts. They are introducing preservation technologies from other countries and strengthening their own measures to protect historical assets.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.