CHAVÍN DE HUÁNTAR
Conservation Partnership

Overview
GHF's goal is to ensure critically-needed funding and expertise for the complete conservation and restoration of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Chavín de Huántar in Ancash, Peru. The end result after four years will be the worldclass scientific consolidation and stabilization of all the primary monuments of Chavín de Huántar, as well as its rich artifacts and archaeological heritage.

Through an integrated program of Master Conservation Planning, Scientific Conservation, Archaeological Research, Artifact Conservation Laboratory and Site Interpretation and Tourism Development in partnership with the local community of Chavín de Huántar and region of Ancash, the Chavín Conservation Partnership will help ensure the long-term survival of Chavín de Huántar and its protection against the coming onslaught of tourism which is forecasted with the completion of a new highway into the Callejón de Conchucos, the location of Chavín.

The Chavín Conservation Partnership will also develop essential local capacity for longterm site, monument and artifact conservation and prepare the priceless Chavín collections from the site and Lima’s National Museum for the new Chavin Museum.

By integrating the local community directly into the training and conservation programs of the site, monument conservation, guiding of tourism, as well as the conservation of Chavín’s tens of thousands of priceless artifacts, the Chavín Conservation Partnership will achieve in four years that which has never been possible at Chavín de Huántar, and which is so desperately needed.

Chavin Conservation and Community Development Sponsored by Antamina				Sponsored by LAN Chile

Above: Collapsing walls and entrance areas to the main Galleries, as well as flooding into the Galleries is causing major long-term damage. Temporary roofing structures only postpone the destruction and cause additional damage driving support poles into the archaeological structure.

Conservation Priorities

1. Hiring Full-Time On-Site Conservation Director and Team
2. Development of Chavín’s First Master Conservation Plan
3. Engaging Chavín Technical Expert Committee
4. Completion of Year One Conservation Milestones
5. Approval and Enforcement of Chavín Master Conservation Plan

Chavín Technical Expert Committee
The Chavín Technical Expert Committee will analyze site conservation challenges and proposed solutions and contribute to on-site conservation and the final draft of the Master Conservation Plan. Experts will be identified over the coming months to provide expert advice and consultation on:

• Archaeological Conservation
• Chavín History and Interpretation
• Structural Engineering
• Materials Engineering – Roofing, Construction Mortar
• Architectural Survey
• Authenticity and Restoration
• Monument Conservation
• Artifact Conservation

The primary emphasis of the Site Conservation Plan for Chavín de Huántar is to provide a comprehensive and scientific-based living framework to guide conservation of this important sacred archaeological site in its cultural and natural environment for archaeology conservators, heritage architects, planners and site for the site’s longterm protection and development.

Site conservation planning is focused on preserving and protecting the outstanding universal value of the cultural heritage assets, while enabling consensus-building with key stakeholders and realizing economic development in harmony with a Site’s aesthetic beauty and historic and cultural values.

Conservation in the context of this Plan includes not only ensuring the physical survival of the archaeological sites and monuments, but also enhancing the visual character of their landscape setting and improving the interpretation and understanding of the whole site as a cultural landscape to visitors. The Site Conservation Plan should form the basis for legislation and designation of the Site as it is protected within the State and Federal jurisdictions, and provide guidance in all conservation work and archaeological research and exploration.

In 2004, we completed the Architectural and Archaeological Survey and Mapping with all relevant survey maps, illustrations, photographs, architectural drawings and descriptive detail including:

• Archaeological History
• Historic Architectural Survey
• Existing Land Use and Activities
• Extended Vistas
• Unsightly areas and activities
• Squatters activities
• Primary tourist and resident pathways
• Proposed development
• Access points, entry/exits
• Religious facilities
• Highest Priorities- Exterior, Interior, Platform, Fortification
• Restoration of Rooftop Temple Sculptures
• Authentic Techniques and Materials
• Gateways and Platform, Reuse of existing sculptured stones
• Doorways, Windows, Security
• Mapping - 2D and 3D
• Inventory all stone/sculptures
• Photos and positioning
• Architectural survey
• Historical background
• Current Land Use and Ownership

Based on the funding of IRG's Cultural Preservation Fund, a Chavinese team of young Peruvian conservators, which received training in Lima and Trujillo in artifact conservation at the National Museum, completed cataloging 1,200 artifacts, 3-400 of which are potential museum-class. Based on this IRG-sponsored pilot program, Telefonica of Spain donated an additional $80,000 to further this work in 2005 and purchase a conservation lab and storage facility in Chavín.

The following early publication documents a selection of the Chavín artifacts conserved in 2004. All descriptions and dating are estimates awaiting further scientific analysis and documentation.

Chavín Artifact Conservation
Global Heritage Fund (GHF) completed high-priority scientific conservation of Chavín artifacts which are currently being looted and neglected throughout the site, town and region of Chavín de Huántar in Huaraz, Peru. GHF received IRG's Cultural Preservation Fund funding to complete the inventory, cleaning and conservation of the entire collection of Chavín artifacts previously stored in numerous storage areas, homes and tool sheds at Chavín. GHF estimates that there are over six hundred (600) sculptures, ceramics and archaeological artifacts known to be endangered.

New support enabled the Chavín Conservation Team GHF to receive training over the past year at Chavín to complete emergency consolidation and conservation, inventory and cataloguing of the most important archaeological artifacts of the Chavín civilization, thought to be the earliest and most developed in Peru's rich history, almost 2,000 years before the Inca.

A new National Museum of Chavín is to be constructed in 2006 in the town of Chavín that will become a major tourism center for this poor region of Peru. The artifacts conserved by your support will be the primary collections and interpretation used by the museum, in combination with Chavín artifacts at the National Museum and Museum of the University of San Marco in Lima. This two-year program will ensure the survival and conservation of these priceless sculptures, ceramics and archaeological materials from the Chavín period, and provide the core collection for the future museum.

In the past year, GHF has worked to help in scientific excavation and conservation of the Main Circular Plaza, as well as three other monument and underground gallery complexes at Chavín de Huántar. GHF also funded emergency site conservation threatened by new road construction and found major new settlement and temple complexes across the valley from the main site of Chavín.

Above : Chavin archaeological finds like these carved human bones are providing new light into this ancient culture which was Peru 's first major society. At right, artifacts left in collapsing storage structures without proper security, cataloguing or conservation.

Above: Current neglected state of the Main Circular Plaza, one of the jewels of Chavin architecture for tourism and interpretation. Collapsing walls and decay of priceless Jaguar and Shaman reliefs from exposure to weather and sun are major threats to this sensitive area.

Conservation of the Circular Plaza - Dr. John Rick, Stanford University
The Circular Plaza of Chavín de Huántar is the most sacred and ritually important open-air context of the ceremonial center. The classic form of this plaza – countersunk about 2 m into an architectural platform, bounded on three sides by major Temples A, B, and C – dates from the last and largest building program in the center, probably around 700-800 B.C. Earlier in time this same center location had a number of functions, including that of atrium for entering Temple A through it’s north staircase, and the flagstone surface of what seems to be an earlier plaza lies about 2 m below the currently visible Circular Plaza floor.

The plaza is very close to 20 m in diameter, with a layout that is perfectly circular according to the precisions of our instruments. Its floor consisted of pillow-shaped pavers of yellow diatomite, and probably a center line of velvet black cut limestone blocks, running on its architectural east-west axis. Aligned with that center line were the eastern and western staircases, made from cut granite blocks. The walls of the plaza were constructed of cut stone, principally granite, consisting of ashlar courses of varying width. The two broadest courses of ashlars were carved in the arcs closest to the western staircase and in the two pairs of terminal stones flanking eastern staircase.

Circular Plaza – 2001 and 2002 Excavations and Research Stanford University

The upper course of square stones depicts humans or human-like creatures in procession toward the western staircase. The lower course of rectangular stones portrays quite similar felines, perhaps jaguars, also with heads toward the western staircase. This carved stone is the largest in-situ corpus of Chavín lithic art known anywhere in the Andean region, and the labor, artistic, and raw material investment it has undoubtedly signals the ritual importance of the Circular Plaza. After abandonment as a ceremonial precinct (our radiocarbon dates from above the plaza floor indicate it was no longer in ritual use by no later than 500 B.C.), the plaza was immediately occupied as a living site by a succession of groups. Multiple occupation floors, each with a complex of living structures, built up a deep layer of soil, rock, and cultural remains, the latter frequently in quite high density. Occupation continued, off and on, through the 1940’s, and only with the arrival of eminent Peruvian archaeologist Julio C. Tello at the site was Chavín restricted from being used as a residential area. At that time, however, there was no trace of the Circular Plaza, and not until the excavations of Dr. Luis Lumbreras in the 1960’s and early 1970’s was the plaza discovered. Lumbreras worked nearly continuously for the better part of a decade in the area between Temples A, B, and C, excavating the thick layer of post-Chavín deposits. His work, however, was interrupted by a sudden and unexpected termination of funding for research in 1972. He had found the floor of the Circular Plaza in a number of spots, discovered the northern arc of decorated ashlars, but unavoidably left a substantial quantity of residential remains overlying the majority of the plaza surface. Above: A misconceived tourism ramp (at right) was constructed in the 1990s prior to excavations of the Main Circular Plaza which revealed the intricate sculptures and the plazas unique design. This construction covered the archaeological site with tons of stone and fill of unknown origin, and has put heavy traffic directly through the center and most sensitive area of the site. In the decades intervening between 1972 and 1998, there were a number of small scale attempts to excavate and remove the remaining post-Chavín materials, but not until John W. Rick and Stanford University came to the site in the 1990’s was the effort truly renewed. In the meantime, a well-intentioned but inexperienced INC site archaeologist built a ramp allowing entry into the plaza; unfortunately, the ramp consisted of archaeological deposits removed from a now-unknown location well away from the plaza itself. In 1998 Rick initiated a small test excavation in the plaza’s center, and then substantial excavations in 2001 and 2002 cleared about half of the plaza area down to original floor level, leaving the most substantial later structures for full documentation. Tests below the plaza floor in 2002 revealed the earlier history of the area, and provided material to provide a foundation date for the construction of the plaza.

Threats and Challenges Confronting the Circular Plaza
The most obvious problem with the Circular Plaza is the presence of later period
structures that keep the visitor from appreciating the original Chavín-period layout of this area, the elegant design of the ceremonial setting, and the effect of the lithic art in setting the theme for rituals. The second problem, confounded in part by the first, is that the original drainage system of the plaza is no longer effective, and given that this is a sunken plaza there are severe problems of flooding during rainy seasons.

Third, in part a consequence of the lack of drainage, the lithic art remaining in the walls of the plaza is degrading rapidly, with the polished granite surfaces becoming crumbly, and in cases peeling from moisture inside the rock. Fourth, the modern access ramp to the plaza is eroding, and the archaeological sediments it introduced to the plaza are becoming irretrievably mixed with the in situ materials of the plaza. Fifth, the plaza walls are in danger of collapse from pressure of sediments behind them, and where the walls are missing, the surrounding fill is inwardly eroding.

The following solutions to these problems are being executed:

1. Excavation - The remaining post-Chavín deposits should be excavated, and as with the earlier Stanford University excavations, the architectural remains, principally residential structures, should be documented in great detail. Once all the structures are exposed, they should be photographed as a whole, and with authorization of the Instituto Nacional de Cultura, they should be dismantled and removed. The plaza floor, where preserved, can be revealed and documented, seeking evidence of the original floor design and decoration. Stone conservators should be enlisted to determine whether the original stone can be permanently displayed, and agreement among relevant authorities must be reached about how to floor the plaza in areas where the original surface was destroyed in antiquity.
2. Drainage - The original plaza floor slopes down from west to east approximately 20 cm; following the likelihood of an eastern drain, in 2002 the Stanford team relocated the actual sump, and managed to reconnect it to the principal drain of the site, the Rocas Canal. The drainage system for Temple B, which runs beneath the principal western staircase descending to the plaza, was found to have been interrupted by post-Chavín pits dug through the plaza floor. This drain should be traced to the east, and reconnected by reconstructing the broken water channel segment. It likely connects with the Rocas Canal as well; this connection should be reestablished.
3. Artifact Conservation - The conservation of the lithic art of the Circular Plaza requires a two-pronged approach. First, techniques must be applied that will arrest the processes that are degrading the cut stone. Surface stabilization and perhaps chemical treatments that can annul the effects of salt and mineral contaminants may be needed, but the agreement of top conservation experts is required before committing to any specific procedure. Second, the environment of the cut stone must be altered to filter out the environmental factors that are primary degradants. Substantial issues in this case are the impact of sunlight (primarily heating and cooling cycles) and the effects of repeated drying and wetting of the stones.

Above: One of the few remaining well-preserved Jaguar panels which encircle the Main Circular Plaza providing a unique visitor experience and invaluable historical record.

While removal of the cut stones to an indoor display context, replacing the originals with high quality replicas is a possibility, we need to consider shelter designs capable of isolating the stones from the elements, but not interfering substantially with visual appreciation of the plaza by visitors. Additionally, since visitors will not be allowed in the Circular Plaza itself, we need to position informational displays that allow the art to be seen and understood in this context.

4. Removal of Access Ramp and Debris - The access ramp to the plaza needs to be carefully removed, and its contents transported to a context in which there will no longer be danger of contamination of other archaeological deposits. Another route for entering the plaza by site personnel needs to be found and stabilized, and the portion of the eastern staircase covered by the ramp needs to be conserved.
5. Stabilization - The strata and sediments lying behind the wall of the Circular Plaza need to be evaluated, and potentially modified to allow wall stability. Water penetration behind the walls undoubtedly plays a role in loss of structural integrity, and it may be possible to channel drainage from above the plaza toward the original drainage system, and eventually the task will be to return to original condition the surface of the platform into which the Circular Plaza is countersunk. Various solutions must be tested for the unsupported unwalled segments of the plaza; probably retaining walls easily identified as non-Chavín in origin will be the easiest solution, but plant roots or other integral methods of stabilization may be tried.

Overall, the Circular Plaza offers the benefits of being a particularly important part of the overall site, yet its conservation, though critical to accomplish soon, is not as difficult as some of the more structural problems of the major site buildings. Work in the Circular Plaza will have significant impact on both the future of the site, and on the experience that visitors have at Chavín.

One of South America’s First Advanced Societies
Chavín de Huántar is located east of Peru’s Cordillera Blanca mountain chain near the long and picturesque valley known as the Callejón de Huáylas. 250 km to the north of Lima at an elevation of 3,150 meters, Chavín has long been a site of Peruvian public interest and archaeological inquiry. It is uniquely situated on a route accessing the extensive Marañon River drainage into which most large rivers of the central Andes flow and it is positioned at the intersection of many major ancient and modern routes between the tropical rainforests and the desert coast.

Chavín de Huántar, which lends its name to the rich pre-Inca Chavín culture, is one of the oldest major cultures in Peru thriving between 1500 and 400 BC. Chavín is well known for having controlled and increased trade in the region. One of the more unique elements to Chavín was that its people did not conquer by warfare -they simply influenced the artistic and cultural development of northern Peru, promoting and participating in a broad interaction sphere. In 1995, UNESCO designated Chavín a World Heritage site.

As one of the earliest and best-known pre-Columbian sites, Chavín’s architecture embodies a complex of terraces and plazas surrounded by major platforms of dressed stone. Extensive carved stone decoration portraying exotic human-animal hybrid figures give a striking appearance to this former place of worship. Archaeologists refer to this cultural expansion as the “Chavín Horizon”. By 900 BC, this broad-based Chavín civilization had become accepted over most of what is today Peru as indicated by the widespread presence of "U" shaped temples and of the Chavín style in sculpture, pottery and textiles.

Chavín de Huántar - Partners in Conservation

Project History
Stanford University Archaeological Investigation and Conservation at Chavín de Huántar

The Stanford Chavín project began in 1995 applying techniques of high-precision, laser-based mapping for Chavín de Huántar that would allow for planning, investigation, and coordination of research and conservation in the monument. Using precise total station technology to begin mapping the extensive visible architecture and other features of Chavín, Stanford has produced a quality 2-dimensional map of the site as well as development of 3-D models in CAD and GIS, in many senses more appropriate to the complex, vertical dimensionality of the site.

From 1996 to 1998, Stanford completed the mapping of the site including the internal passageways known as galleries. The result of this work is a high-precision model of Chavín, exterior and interior, that can be used in all planning, conservation, and research processes.

Starting in 1998 the Stanford Chavín Project began strategic excavations aimed at 1) checking specific architectural details to corroborate/correct the patterns of architectural growth we hypothesized as a result of the mapping/modeling project, and 2) to begin studies and activities that would support long-term conservation efforts at the monument and its immediate extensions (primarily residential areas surrounding the temples).

Small test units were placed along the wall faces of Temples A, B, and C, resulting in a better understanding of the integrity of the major facades, as well as the construction sequence. Excavations in the major field area to the west of the Temple A-D complex revealed a major area of ceremonial architecture, buried mostly by intentional filling activity in late Chavín times, including the Main Circular Plaza, a focus of 2004 conservation.

Work across the Mosna River in the adjacent La Banda district produced evidence of extensive and intensive Chavín period residential deposits, culminating in 2003 when an urban core settlement was defined in the face of impending roadwork. In 2001, a cache of 20 intact Strombus conch shell trumpets was found in the small Caracolas Gallery near the Circular Plaza, defining a new ceremonial paraphernalia storage function for the galleries.

Finally, the project has been carefully excavating and documenting the post-Chavín period informal residential structures of the Circular Plaza, and relocating and reactivating the original drainage system with the goal of restoring the plaza to its original Chavín-period condition. Two field seasons in 2000 and 2001 emphasizing the plaza have managed to reveal half the plaza to floor level; extensive archaeological materials have been recovered, and a new series of stone carvings were revealed.

2004 Chavín de Háuntar Conservation

Progress Report Summary
GHF provided critical funding and expertise in partnership with Stanford University to complete conservation of the Main Circular Plaza and restoration of the ancient complex drainage systems of Chavin dating to 1200BC. As well, hundreds of Chavin artifacts were researched, conserved and inventoried for the upcoming new Chavin Museum. GHF secured new funding from Peruvian donors to support our conservation efforts at the Friends of Chavin reception attended by the First Lady of Peru.

Global Heritage Network (GHN) - Applications and Technology
GHF is providing our Chavín de Huántar project leaders the best in planning and conservation technology and applications in the form of a field laboratory that consists of GHF conservation stations with client-side architectural, GIS survey and mapping software, as well as satellite imagery. GHF applications manage the entire conservation lifecycle from planning and conservation science, investigation, GIS and mapping, site excavation and conservation database and referenced satellite, 3D scan, 2D GIS and mapping and architectural databases. Through GHF’s Global Heritage Network (GHN) program, GHF provides equipment loans and core applications for Planning, GIS/Mapping, Satellite Imagery, Scanning, Architecture/ CAD and Archaeological Conservation. GHN leverages industry-standard applications, public domain imagery and data sources.

GHN Technology and Applications consists of GHN Conservation Stations at each GHF Project with client-side software connected over Internet to GHN Servers and Knowledge Base and Collaboration applications, a conservation and planning database of all GHF Projects, Satellite Imagery depository and GIS and Mapping databases. The Global Heritage Network manages the entire conservation lifecycle from planning and conservation science, investigation, GIS and mapping, site excavation and conservation database and referenced satellite, 3D scan, 2D GIS and mapping and architectural databases.

GHN provides equipment loans and core applications for Planning, GIS/Mapping, Satellite Imagery, Scanning, Architecture/ CAD and Archaeological Conservation. GHN leverages industry-standard applications, public domain imagery and data sources. GHN’s collaboration and knowledge sharing enables GHF Advisors and Experts to directly provide expertise and technical input for GHF Projects, and for Site Directors and their teams to have world-class conservation toolkits- the GHN Conservation Station with core applications for mapping, GIS, architectural design, database for master conservation planning and on-site conservation work.

GHF’s technical expertise and conservation applications and technology provide a
powerful advantage over the current state of conservation science used in Peru today.