Chan Chan dig reveals elite Chimú burial platform
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Archaeologists in Peru uncovered a funerary platform within the Chan Chan archaeological complex, revealing the remains of 38 individuals from the Chimú culture.
The Peruvian Ministry of Culture funded the work at Utzh An, a palace within Chan Chan, during conservation efforts. Jorge Meneses, the lead archaeologist, explained the platform includes a central chamber and two side chambers. The central chamber held the remains of a prominent person accompanied by archaeological artifacts made from shell and metal.
The side chambers differed in their contents. One contained metal weapons and emblems, while the other held 20 bodies, adding to the 18 already discovered on the platform. Researchers noted one individual received a unique burial treatment. Unlike typical Chimú burials where bodies were flexed or seated, this person was buried fully extended, suggesting a special status or role within the Chimú society.
Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimú kingdom, which flourished from about 900 to 1470 AD, before being conquered by the Inca.
