The ruins of Chavin de Huantar date back to a pre-Inca culture which first populated the Mosna canyon around 900 B.C. At 3150 m, and sandwiched between two Andean Mountain ranges, you could say Chavin de Huantar was "out of the way", but for anyone with an interest in archaeology, or an appetite for hiking it is a must-see. Made up of three major structures: the Circular Plaza, the Old Temple and the New Temple the site covers an area of about 500m², all now carpeted in new grass to protect the soil. For those with a fleeting interest in the site, but not bothered about the trek, you can see many of the unearthed artefacts at the Museo de la Nacion in Lima, 250 km to the south.

Written by  Alex Allen.

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Chavin (Archaeological Site)

The archaeological site of Chavin gave its name to the culture that developed between 1500 and 300 B.C. in this high valley of the Peruvian Andes. This former place of worship is one of the earliest and best-known pre-Columbian sites. Its appearance is striking, with the complex of terraces and squares, surrounded by structures of dressed stone, and the mainly zoomorphic ornamentation.

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Review posted 7th December 2007 by World Reviewer Staff.

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