Ancient UNESCO Site Defaced With Shocking Graffiti
An act of vandalism has taken place in a centuries-old Peruvian city recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, with a person drawing an image of male genitalia on one of the city's original walls, BBC News reports, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.
The person was filmed spraying paint on a wall in Chan Chan, a pre-Columbian city located 500 kilometers north of Lima and visited by thousands of people every month.
Peru's Ministry of Culture stated that the author of the act showed "a profound lack of respect for our history and cultural heritage, as well as a violation of regulations that protect archaeological sites."
Some Peruvians questioned how he was able to damage the wall without anyone stopping him, while others expressed disappointment at the lack of proper protection at the site. Video of the incident was widely shared on social media. The alleged perpetrator faces up to six years in prison if identified and arrested.
Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimú kingdom before it was conquered by the Incas in the 15th century and remains one of Peru's most important archaeological sites.
UNESCO describes it as the largest city in pre-Columbian America, spread over a large area and divided into several "cities" surrounded by thick walls.
The paint attack comes just months after a man damaged the "12 Corner Stone," a famous Inca artifact in the city of Cuzco.
