The vandalism of an ancient archaeological site in Peru with obscene graffiti has sparked accusations of a "serious lack of respect" towards the country's cultural heritage. A young man appears to have been caught on video spray-painting a giant penis on the walls of Chan Chan, a pre-Columbian archaeological site that dates back over 600 years. The viral clip has caused outrage among Peruvian officials, who condemned the incident as "a violation of the norms that protect archeological heritage".
Despite the strong backlash, the offender has yet to be identified - though the person guilty of the vandalism could face up to six years in prison if and when is caught, the maximum sentence for attacks on culturally significant monuments. "This act constitutes a serious lack of respect towards our historical and cultural heritage and represents a violation of the norms that protect archeological heritage," the Peruvian Ministry for Culture said in response to the vandalism.
Chan Chan was the capital city of the Chimu kingdom before it was taken over by the Incas in the 15th century. Alongside the stone citadels of Machu Picchu and Caral, it is considered one of the country's most important archaeological artefacts.
The vandalism was reported to have taken place on Monday, May 12, at the walled complex which is a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site and sits on the outskirts of Truijillo - a city around 500km away from Peru's coastal capital, Lima.
Chan Chan's name translates to "resplendent sun" in the native language, and was recognised by UNESCO in 1968, the same year it was added to the list of endangered heritage sites.
Originally a complex of ten walled palaces, Chan Chan is thought to be the largest city built of mud brick in pre-Columbian America - at its peak, spanning nearly 20 square kilometres.
The latest graffiti incident comes just months after ancient Incan artefact the Twelve Angled Stone was chipped in the Peruvian city of Cusco.
A Peruvian citizen was arrested on February 8 for hitting the stone with a hammer, causing "irreversible damage" to the 500-year-old piece of history, Agence France-Press reported.
