The Chauchilla cemetery and its open-air graves

The Chauchilla Necropolis or Cemetery is located in the district of Nasca, in a desert, in the province of the same name, within the city of Ica. It is a cemetery of more than 1000 years old, in which there are exposed bone remains, which would have belonged to the Poroma and Ica cultures, although there are some who identify it more with the Nazca men. Chauchilla also includes a built area, this is located on the left slope of the Tranzas River and it is in it where the presence of tombs can be observed, these are characterized by presenting an extension of 2,000 meters and a thickness of barely 500 m. and are made from adobe. The site is considered the largest necropolis of the pre-Inca era.

Although there are funerary constructions in Chauchilla, the most significant of the place are the so-called mummies. About these we can say that most of them are in a very good state of conservation and that their mummification was due to a natural event aided by the type of terrain in the area. Among the mummified remains are also those of infants, which to guarantee their conservation have been transferred to the site museum. Regarding the permanence of the mummies in the necropolis, this is part of the main attraction of the enclosure, since it is the only place in Peru where the mummies can be observed in their graves.

Regarding the tombs, in the necropolis 20 can be seen in which mummified remains are exposed. The graves are small craters made in the earth. In them are the mummies. The mummies are presented in bundles, in addition to being tied in a sitting or non-horizontal resting position. In them, it is impressive to observe that most of them have complete teeth and long hair that reaches the waist, which, it is said, seems to endow them with a trait of vitality. Along with the visible mummies, other skeletal remains can be found, especially very white skulls. It is believed that different riches had initially existed in the tombs, but that they would have been stolen by looters.

Where it is located?

The Chauchilla Cemetery is located in the district of Nazca, Ica. About 30 kilometers from the city center.

The Tradition of Mummification

Many of us remember the movies "The Mummy" or "Indiana Jones", where part of the mummification rituals performed in Ancient Egypt are represented. Although a much simpler technique was performed in Peru, it was just as effective. And it is that the ancient cultures, both in Peru and in a large part of the world, believed in the existence of a second life after death or in the reincarnation of the body in another living being. For them, death was not only a temporary farewell to their loved ones, but also a preparation ritual for their passage to the "afterlife" or next spiritual level. For this reason, many of the deceased were buried with offerings and even their most precious objects.

Its impressive tombs are two kilometers long by 200 meters wide and are made of adobe. Although these funerary constructions in Chauchilla leave many tourists speechless, the most significant thing about the place are the mummies, which have remained in an almost perfect state of preservation until today, thanks to the arid climate of the Nazca desert. You can see the bone remains and even hair wrapped in bundles of cloth, accompanied by their trousseau such as textiles, gold objects and ceramic fragments.

Chauchilla and its Open Sky Tombs

This archaeological site is completely outdoors and for several years it suffered constant looting of its hidden treasures by looters who roamed the area.

Since 1997, the area has been protected and has become an official archaeological site recognized by the National Institute of Culture (INC), being one of the most outstanding tourist attractions in the province of Nasca, within the department of Ica. The most delicate mummies are in a small site museum, located next to the Chauchilla cemetery.

Tickets

The entrance to the place is worth s/1.00 for schoolchildren, s/2.00 for children, s/3.00 for seniors and s/7.50 for adults. Visiting hours are from 8 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon, and the site is open all year.

How to get to Chauchilla?

The Chauchilla cemetery is 28 kilometers southeast of the city of Nasca. To visit it from Lima, you must take the Panamericana Sur highway up to km 463, then continue along a nearby road for about 10 kilometers to Ica. The journey takes about 30-45 minutes.

In order for the visitor to access the Chauchilla necropolis, they must travel from the Plaza de Armas of Ica to the complex. The course of the trip is 45 minutes maximum, in the case of traveling by tourist bus.

The place is open all year and you can get to know it with a day tour. If you want to complement your trip, we recommend you take advantage of visiting the Nazca Lines since they are very close to Chauchilla.

Recommendations

Wear light clothing since it is a desert area with high temperatures that can reach 35°C, especially during the summer months (December to March). Bring a windbreaker for the chilly afternoon winds.
Do not forget to bring drinking water, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Respect and protect the national heritage. Enjoy this archaeological site but always following the rules of the place and the delimited path so as not to step on or damage the archaeological remains.

Best Tours in Peru

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If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.