Archaeology Dig at Chan Chan, Peru

Excavations at Chan Chan have been ongoing since 1969, yet the daily lives of its residents and skilled artisans remain a mystery. The bustling southern and western neighborhoods once sheltered more than 30,000 inhabitants with talented artisans—metalsmiths and weavers who shaped the city’s culture as evidenced by fine textiles and gold, silver, and copper objects that have been unearthed during previous excavations.

This year, the focus will be on two houses nestled in one of these neighborhoods. Your work will shed light on how these homes were arranged and how their layouts evolved over time.

You will spend four days excavating at Chan Chan under the supervision of Dr. Prieto and his professional team.

You will excavate to clear walls, dig through mud floors and soft fills, sifting soil and labelling all of your discoveries.

You can expect to discover artifacts from prehistoric households such as textiles, ceramic vessels and fragments, metal objects, and organic materials such as carved bones, wood and gourds in addition to human remains.

All the artifacts you work on will undergo conservation at the Laboratory of Archaeology and Conservation at the University of Trujillo, under the permits of the Ministry of Culture in Peru.

This itinerary also includes a guided visit to El Brujo, La Luna, and visit to Dr. Prieto’s Laboratory of Archaeology and Conservation at the University of Trujillo for collections and artifact viewing.