Chan Chan

Chan Chan, sometimes called Chimor itself, was the capital city of the Chimor kingdom [1]. It was the largest city of the pre-Columbian era in South America [1]. It is now an archeological site in the department of La Libertad five kilometers west of Trujillo, Peru [1]. Chan Chan is located in the mouth of the Moche Valley and was the capital of the historical empire of the Chimor from 900 to 1470, when they were defeated and incorporated into the Inca Empire [1]. The city of Chan Chan spanned 20 square kilometers and had a dense urban center of six square kilometers which contained extravagant ciudadelas [1]. Ciudadelas were large architectural masterpieces which housed plazas, storerooms, and burial platforms for the royals [1]. After the Inca conquered the Chimú around 1470 AD, Chan Chan fell into decline [1].