Thousands of archaeological sites dating from hundreds to thousands of years old sit abandoned and forgotten across Peru. Year after year they decay further through lack of care or are intentionally destroyed. In the past century untold amounts of history has been lost.

Those that are recognised and fall under the protection of Peru’s National Institute of Culture (INC) don’t fair much better, but at least the INC must grant permission for any work to be carried out around the ruins, preventing their destruction in large and/or legal projects.

To this long list of protected national monuments, 80 ancient sites have been added yesterday from the two Peruvian departments of La Libertad in the north and Ica in the south.

In La Libertad, the archaeological sites now recognised include the Cerro Huarcayoc and Huarcayoc I, located between the towns of Santiago de Challas and Huancaspata, Pataz province.

In Ica, among the archaeological sites declared cultural heritage are Maijo Chico 1, 2 and 3, Maijo Grande, Caracoles 1,2 and 3, Pampa Media Luna 1 and 2, Cerro Tres Pavos 1 and 2, Pampa Media Luna 4, 5, 6 , 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13, Media Luna 1 and 2, San Marcos 2, 3 and 4.

As well as, Santa Catalina 2, Asiento, Chuichipampa 1, 2 and 3, Cucahuischu, Illatoro 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, Marcaya 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Media Luna 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, Casa Blanca 1, 2 and 3, Huayurí Bajo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, Huayurí 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Other ancient sites include Pampas de Huayurí, Pampa Las Carretas 1, 2, 3 and 4, Larán, Monte Grande, Pampa Media Luna 7, 12 and 14, San Marcos 1 and Huayurí Bajo 7.

Now falling under protection as “National Cultural Heritage”, any road, agricultural or farming project that could affect the sites in any way must first be approved by the INC.

Tags: Archaeology, ica, INC, la libertad, ruins