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Chotuna-Chornancap facts for kids

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The Chotuna Chornancap Archaeological Complex is an amazing ancient site in Peru, near the city of Chiclayo. It's a place with old pyramids and buildings that tell stories from long ago. This complex is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northwest of Chiclayo, in the Lambayeque Region.

Two main pyramids stand out here: Chotuna and Chornancap. Many people believe the Chotuna pyramid is connected to the famous legend of Naylamp, an ancient hero. Chotuna was once a very important ceremonial center for the Sican culture. This culture was one of the many amazing groups that lived in ancient Peru between the years 700 and 1300 AD. After the Sican people, the Chimu culture took over, and then later, the Inca Empire. In 2011, archaeologists made an exciting discovery here: the tomb of a powerful woman, now known as the "Priestess of Chornancap."

Discovering the Past

People have been exploring the ruins of Chotuna for a long time. In the early 1900s, a researcher named Hans Heinrich Brüning studied the site. He thought Chotuna might be the mythical place called Chot, which is mentioned in old stories about the idol Yampallec and the legend of Naylamp. Even though Brüning later changed his mind, many local people still feel that Huaca Chotuna is indeed the legendary Chot, and they believe Naylamp and his family are buried deep inside.

Later, in 1972, other researchers like Hermann Trimborn and Jorge Rondón visited Chotuna and its neighbor, Chornancap. They wrote down their observations and historical notes about these important monuments.

Between 1980 and 1982, Christopher B. Donnan did more research. He created maps of the site and even found some ancient wall paintings at Chornancap.

A big archaeological project, called the Chotuna-Chornancap Archaeological Project, began in 2006. It was led by archaeologist Carlos Wester La Torre, who is the director of the Brüning National Archaeological Museum in Lambayeque. This project received support from the Peruvian government. During their work, they uncovered a complex building structure about 80 meters (260 feet) south of the Chornancap huaca (an ancient sacred site). This discovery made researchers hopeful that the site was indeed the mythical Chot, even though they didn't find the Yampallec Idol.

In October 2011, a very special tomb was found. It belonged to a young woman who is thought to have been a priestess or a ruler, now called the "Priestess of Chornancap." Her body was discovered during an excavation led by Carlos Wester La Torre. The tomb contained beautiful clothing and ornaments. Other people were also buried with her, likely as part of special ancient traditions. They also found the tomb of a young man, around 20 to 30 years old, buried with ceremonial knives. In 2016, a different team found 13 more graves during their excavations.

In August 2012, another tomb was found right under where the Chornancap priestess was buried. This tomb also had many valuable items, suggesting it belonged to another important person.

Archaeologists are still working at the site today. In September 2016, they announced the discovery of 17 more ancient burials in Chornancap. One of these burials seemed to be for a very important person, surrounded by ceramic objects.

Research at the complex has shown strong evidence of special ceremonies that involved offerings, sometimes including human burials. The ways these ceremonies were performed at Chotuna-Chornancap seem to have changed over time.

Timeline of Chotuna-Chornancap

The Chotuna-Chornancap site was important during three main periods:

  • 700–1300 AD: This was the time of the Sican culture. Chotuna served as a major ceremonial center for them.
  • 1300–1470 AD: The Chimu culture took control of the area during this period.
  • 1470–1532 AD: Finally, the Inca Empire occupied the site before the arrival of the Spanish.

The archaeological complex of Chotuna-Chornancap is located in the San José district, in the Lambayeque department of Peru. It's about 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of the city of Chiclayo, right on the northern coast of Peru. These ruins are made up of several flat-topped pyramids and building areas. The two most famous pyramids are Chotuna and Chornancap. Chotuna is especially known for its connection to the ancient legend of Naylamp.

Chotuna was a central place for ceremonies of the Sican culture, an important group in ancient Peru that thrived between 700 and 1300 AD. After them, the Chimu and then the Inca people lived here. A major discovery was made in 2011: the tomb of the "Priestess of Chornancap."

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Complejo arqueológico Chotuna Chornancap para niños

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