Peru: Chavin Archaeological Site

The Chavín de Huantar archaeological site is one of the most significant and earliest pre-Columbian sites in the Andes mountains of Peru. It sits at a high elevation (over 3,000 m or 10,000 ft). The Chavín civilization flourished between approximately 900 and 200 BC, and this site was their primary ceremonial and religious center. The site is a complex of monumental architecture, including:a massive complex with the Old Temple and the later New Temple, characterized by large U-shaped platforms and plazas.even more impressive are internal galleries with a labyrinthine network of internal passageways. Chavín de Huántar is renowned for its unique artistic style and the two most famous carved pieces are on display here – the Lanzon Stela ( a 4.5-meter granite monolith deep inside the underground galleries, depicting a fanged deity, a mix of a human, jaguars and serpent), and the Tenon Heads (stone carvings of fanged human-animal faces, fitted into niches on the exterior walls of the temple). A totally overwhelming site given how ancient this civilization was! It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.