Chan Chan archaeological complex in the northern department of La Libertad should be taken off of the UNESCO’s danger list, as less risks have been detected, the head of the Executing Unit Nº 110 Cristóbal Campana claimed.
According to the aforementioned archaeologist, in charge of the protection and research of the site, more than five kilometers of outside walls have been rebuilt to protect the mud city.
Likewise, four big covertures have been installed to protect exhibition areas which feature the “frisos”, figures in high relief engraved in the mud wall.
The drainage system is already in place to drain out the rain water from Chan Chan, administrative and religious capital of Chimu culture, he told Andina news agency.
Campana made such statements with regard to the 34th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Brazil, which will review the state of conservation of 147 World Heritage properties, including the 31 sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger and another 36 that are causing serious concern.
The In Danger List features sites which are threatened by a variety of problems such as pollution, urban development, poorly managed mass tourism, wars and natural disasters, which have a negative impact on the outstanding values for which the sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The Chimu Kingdom, with Chan Chan (Trujillo, La Libertad) as its capital, reached its apogee in the 15th century, not long before falling to the Incas.
The planning of this huge city, the largest in pre-Columbian America, reflects a strict political and social strategy, marked by the city's division into nine 'citadels' or 'palaces' forming autonomous units.
Source: Andina [July 27, 2010]