Temple of the Moon, Temple of the Sun, Chan Chan

Inside the "Temple of the Moon" archaeological project: an original wall revealed

The archaeological sites of two great pre-Incan civilizations -- the Moche and the Chimu -- are the reason to visit to Trujillo, Peru.  The Moche culture lasted from about 100 to 700 A.D. The Chimu arose around 900 A.D. and were eventually conquered by the Inca in 1470, a little more than half a century before the Inca were, in turn, conquered by Pizarro and the Spanish.

First stop: El Museo Huacas de Moche, a museum dedicated to the Moche culture:

It is located just outside the Temple of the Moon.

The museum has an interesting and informative collection of material on the Moche, but, unfortunately, photography is forbidden, so on to the Temple of the Moon.

First off, we don't know if this really was a "Temple of the Moon." The Moche disappeared around 700 A,D, and left no written records, so it is mere supposition that this and the adjacent "Temple of the Sun" had those purposes.

This is a working archaeological site that you can tour.

The roofs are in place not to protect the site from the elements, but to protect the archaeologists from the hot desert sun.

Lots of excavations to see:

The original Moche walls, in the original Moche colors (red, yellow, blue, and black) visible here.

The Chimu later took over this site and built their own walls over the existing walls.  Sort of the first millennia equivalent of re-wallpapering the walls of the house when you move in:

You might be able to see a group of students at the base of this mountain:

Zoom in closer:

Apparently they were not archaeologists and were there for some other purpose.

And here is the Temple of the Sun, which is not yet open to tourists, across the way:

These were giant pyramids, and the residential neighborhood was in the land between the two ceremonial pyramids. The pyramids were the center of government and religion. No "wall of separation between church and state" in those cultures!

Next, it is off the capital of the Chimu people:  Chan Chan.  But, first, a visit to Huanchaco, Trujillo's beach town right near Chan Chan:

Huanchaco is known for a few things in particular:

These fishing boats made of reeds:

They look like kayaks. the fish you catch go in the back part of the kayak.

It also is known for having the best ceviche on the northern coast of Peru.  This would have been great except for the fact that, on this day, I am suffering from a nasty bout of food poisoning. Food holds no interest to me at present, which is terrible, since eating delicious food is one of the main reasons to travel.

Apparently Huanchaco is also quite the surfing spot. Lots of people out in the water today. So many, if fact, it looked like surfing rush hour.

Sea bird statuary and surfers. This is the life:

And fish statuary, too.

Next stop: Chan Chan.

This is a reproduction of the "guards" in Chan Chan, which, sadly, the real stone versions are hidden from view (possibly to protect them for tourists).

Chan Chan is huge.

Even the small part open to the public is huge.

Chan Chan is, what I would call, an "all inclusive." The residential neighborhoods, the government, and the religious are all within its walls.

A dignitary of some sort from the United States was visiting at the same time as me:

Here you can see carvings of sea otters:

This is fish. Note the movement of the waves:

And the design visible here is fishing nets, which the Chimu used to get fish from the world's richest fishing grounds:

Again, this is a working archaeological site:

These are a series of small rooms without doors. Possible purpose: grain storage.

And we conclude our visit to Chan Chan with this:

A Peruvian hairless dog walking on the walls of Chan Chan.