Scandal in Chan Chan: obscene graffiti damages UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Scandal in Chan Chan: obscene graffiti damages UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Chan Chan, Peru - Last weekend there was an outrageous incident in the historic clay brace city Chan Chan in Peru. An unknown vandale smeared the more than 600-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site with obscene graffiti, spraying an oversized penis on one of the ancient walls. This reports Vol.at . The Peruvian Ministry of Culture has condemned and announced this act as a "serious violation of the cultural heritage of the country" to take legal action in order to be held accountable.

The incident that quickly became media -effective shows a young man with a backpack in an online video, while he contaminates the historical wall with spray cans. The investigation into the process is running, but the perpetrator has not yet been identified.

Legal consequences and loss of culture

The vandal threatens criminal consequences that can include up to six years in prison. This has reported 20min.ch . The incident shows the vulnerability of cultural sites before vandalism and the potential legal consequences of such acts.

Chan Chan, which was once the center of the Chimú empire and was built between 900 and 1450 AD, had up to 30,000 inhabitants in its heyday. This citadel extends over 20 square kilometers and comprises around ten palaces. In addition to Machu Picchu and Caral-Supe, Chan Chan is one of the most visited archaeological places Peru, which makes the severity of vandalism even clearer.

The current situation

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is not only an important cultural heritage Peru, but also a popular tourist destination, such as the Kleine Zeitung emphasized. Vandalism falls into a time when the site already suffers from other challenges, such as the increase in groundwater and illegal settlements that endanger their integrity.

With a clear focus on the protection of the cultural heritage, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture hopes to set a sign against such vandalism by initiating legal steps. The incident not only represents an attack on the past, but also raises questions about responsibility and dealing with cultural treasures in the present.