De palacios a mausoleos: Nuevas evidencias e interpretaciones sobre los accesos de los conjuntos amurallados de Chan Chan, Perú

New evidence from the Gran Chimú complex in Chan Chan, Peru, challenges traditional views of the site's architecture. Researchers found that hornacinas (niche-like structures) with wooden statues were likely late additions to the palace walls, suggesting their role in funerary rituals and ancestor worship. This discovery supports the transformation of these complexes from royal palaces into mausoleums upon the death of Chimú kings. The study analyzed architectural features and statue placements across multiple walled ensembles, providing a fresh interpretation of Chan Chan's evolution during the Chimú Kingdom (900–1470 CE).

Gayoso Rullier, H. L., & Gamarra Carranza, N. V. (2022). De palacios a mausoleos: Nuevas evidencias e interpretaciones sobre los accesos de los conjuntos amurallados de Chan Chan, Perú. Latin American Antiquity, 34(1), 97–115. https://doi.org/10.1017/laq.2022.6