SAVE SANTO DOMINGO

SAVE SANTO DOMINGO - PERU

In the far north of Peru, about 20 km east of the city of Trujillo is an highly endangered archaeological complex located in the Quebrada de Santo Domingo, a very historical and scenic 32 square-km dry river valley. Leading into the Moche River Valley and cradled by the colourful Cerro Colorado mountain range, it is strategically located between the archaeological complexes of Cerro Oreja (Galinazo Period) and Cerro Arena (Salinar Period), and faces north across an impressive series of Saharan sand dunes towards the Caballo Muerto (Galindo Complex). Located about five km from the well known Moche Huaca de la Luna and just south of the Chavimochic irrigation canal, the area was designated intangible by the Peruvian Institute of Culture.

The archaeological remains in this valley indicate human activity from the Lithic Period to Intermedio Tardio Period and include shelters, platforms, canals, ceremonial paths (one very long one of 10 meters wide), as well as many stone point and tool workshops. Most important is a dense distribution of geoglyphs from the Arcaico Period to the Intermedio Temprano Period depicting zoomorphs, anthropomorphs, hunting scenes and complex spirals (use the links below to view some photos).

The archaeological structures, as well as the varied flora and fauna, were up until now, very well preserved because of their inaccessibility. However, in the past two years the local Chavimochic Irrigation Canal authorities have clandestinely organised the quarrying, bulldozing, and distribution - even sale - of lots of land in this so called intangible zone.

The archaeologist responsible for the initial inventory of the zone strangely enough has never published photos or articles relating to the archaeological zone, and the INC has turned a blind eye to the illegal exploitation by the Chavimochic engineers. Obviously, once the entire zone is bulldozed, there will be no need to protect it.

A local guide and archaeology student, Victor Corcuera, and an archaeologist of Trujillo University, Daniel S. Castillo Benites, are leading an active campaign to alert authorities and the press - but the Trujillo area is already dominated by the Huaca de la Luna (research funded by private donations and foreign scientific organizations) and Chan Chan, an endangered world heritage monument managed by the INC. The local archaeologists are reticent to protest the destruction of the zone, because the INC controls their activity and careers. The local public is so used to living on old tombs and finding prehispanic pottery in their gardens that one more archaeological site in their back yard is hardly a surprise.

I do believe that anyone who has the slightest interest in early human settlements will agree that this particular site is worth saving. Its breathtakingly beautiful location so precariously close to uncontrolled urban development, its precious treasures of geoglyphs, lithic structures, stone workshops and wildlife which have survived centuries of El Niño's, winds and lack of control make it a most valuable natural and prehistoric landscape and thus an important research base for archaeologists, ecologists, geologists, and anthropologists concerned with urban development and the environment.

Peru is a signatory to the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and should be bound to preserve all its archaeological sites. My request for help presumes that outside pressure may lead the local people and authorities to realize the treasure they are destroying and includes organizing a petition to send to Peruvian authorities, writing heads-up to international press, mobilising the international community of archaeological professionals and amateurs to learn about and research this spectacular site, and seeking aid and development organisations help to solve the urban-growth problem which so menaces the historical and natural environment.

All photographs below have been digitally enhanced by Maarten van Hoek. However, copyright of these photos rests with Melissa Massat, Daniel Massat, Hans Lujan and Víctor Corcuera Cueva; 2003. The text above is by Melissa Massat.

For more information please contact:
Melissa MASSAT, cmelissaptAThotmail.com
or Victor CORCUERA (muchicsAThotmail.com)
or Daniel S. Castillo Benites (see his websites below)

In the same area are important rock art sites like Alto de la Guitarra. Use the link below to see some of the petroglyphs at this site.

SAVE SANTO DOMINGO

View to the east across the Quebrada de Santo Domingo towards the Cerro Oreja Complex. In the foreground there is a circular structure, whereas further east a large triple spiral can be seen.

Close-up of the circular structure and the triple spiral.

Close-up of a double spiral in the Santo Domingo valley.

View of the impressive landscape of the Quebrada de Santo Domingo with a geoglyph of an anthropomorphic figure in the right-hand corner of the photo; possibly a female figure. Inset: a clearer photo of the same figure.

SAVE SANTO DOMINGO

The geoglyphs of the Quebrada de Santo Domingo are so vulnerable that protective measurements cannot be taken too soon. For the two humans in the photo it seems to be too late. They were overrun by a modern vehicle. This is sheer vandalism. The damage is far more extensive than the this photograph shows. The photograhs (next page) of the bulldozed area from the endangered zone indicate how rapidly destruction takes place. It is irreversible. We hope it can be stopped.

MORE PHOTOS OF SANTA DOMINGO

ANDEAN TIME-CHART

The geoglyphs at Quebrada Santo Domingo probably date from the Initial Period up to the Early Intermediate period. Consult the time chart.

MORE INFORMATION ON SANTO DOMINGO Textos en Español

Website by Daniel S. Castillo Benites. Existe la urgente necesidad de proteger los geoglifos de la Quebrada de Santo Domingo, debido a que su perdida seria irreparable en el futuro. Se tiene conocimiento que ya han desaparecido algunos debido a la extracción de piedra en esta zona, a pesar de existir carteles recién pintados por el INCLL que prohíbe su acceso a dicha zona.

MORE INFORMATION ON PERUVIAN ARCHAEOLOGY

Web site by Daniel S. Castillo Benites

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	SAVE SANTO DOMINGO View to the east across the Quebrada de Santo Domingo towards the Cerro Oreja Complex. In the foreground there is a circular structure, whereas further east a large triple spiral can be seen.
	Close-up of the circular structure and the triple spiral.
	Close-up of a double spiral in the Santo Domingo valley.
	View of the impressive landscape of the Quebrada de Santo Domingo with a geoglyph of an anthropomorphic figure in the right-hand corner of the photo; possibly a female figure. Inset: a clearer photo of the same figure.
	SAVE SANTO DOMINGO The geoglyphs of the Quebrada de Santo Domingo are so vulnerable that protective measurements cannot be taken too soon. For the two humans in the photo it seems to be too late. They were overrun by a modern vehicle. This is sheer vandalism. The damage is far more extensive than the this photograph shows. The photograhs (next page) of the bulldozed area from the endangered zone indicate how rapidly destruction takes place. It is irreversible. We hope it can be stopped.