The archaeological site of Chavín de Huántar

Before Columbia and the Incas, the Chavín people lived in Peru between 1500 and 300 BCE. Stories of their social life and religious ceremonies can be learned from artwork and architecture found at Chavín de Huántar.  

There is evidence from their iconography and drawings that they were devoted cult members and that the area was visited by local rulers all across the Central Andes.

The site includes massive temple structures, pyramid-like structures, courts and sunken plazas. A great deal of information can be found in well-preserved cave-like galleries. Research has shown that these underground galleries may have been used to project really loud sounds.

Stanford University is among the various institutes that have studied this culture through excavations and diggings. Everyone is looking to find the story in the artifacts left behind.

This ancient culture has a strong connection with the modern town of Chavín, which greatly relies on archaeological tourism from all around the world.

One of the highlights of the archaeological site is the Lanzón statue. The Lanzón is a cult object that served as the focal point in the Old Temple at Chavín. It was 15 feet tall and resembles a digging stick, which makes experts believe it was associated with the harvest season.