To Weave A Palace: Architecture & Ornament at Chan Chan, Peru April 29, 2009

Chan Chan on Peru's north coast and the capital of the former empire of Chimor, was the seat of one of the largest and most complex states of the Andean region prior to the rise of the Inca in the 15th century. At the core of the city are 10 monumental palaces richly ornamented with adobe reliefs. Examination of construction techniques and comparisons between the media used to create the reliefs have provided new evidence on the function of palace architecture and revealed new insights into relative hierarchies of ancient Andean art and associated meanings.