Preserving Chavín de Huántar

In 2005, a research group from the University of California, Berkley traveled to Peru with CyArk, a not-for-profit that specializes in 3D documentation. The group went to Chavín de Huántar to collect archeological information using laser light technology called LiDAR.  

The data collected from the laser scans became a starting point for a bigger restoration plan of these ancient ruins. The technology was vital in capturing images of some of the complex underground galleries created by the ancient Chavín people.

CyArk returned to Chavín in 2017 to collect images of the canals and river bed. LIDAR was used to measure distances through a light sensor to find any weak spots the ruins may be hiding. The data would help in the ongoing fight to preserve this ancient city.

Take a virtual tour of Chavín de Huántar through this 360-degree panoramic image.

The ancient ruins are located in a very delicate spot, in a valley just between two rivers beneath the Cordillera Blanca mountain. This was certainly ideal as a water source of the past, but today is a source of concern in terms of flooding as temperatures continue to rise. 

The data collected from scans and images are helpful, giving local archaeologists a better idea of the situation as it is now. It is also useful to restore the site back to today’s state in case of future damage.