Location: 19 mi (30 km) South of Nazca
Used: 200 AD- 900 AD
Entrance Fee: 7 USD
Chauchilla Cemetery is situated 19 mi (30 km) South of Nazca in Peru. Chauchilla Cemetery is a World famous burial site that contains well preserved mummified human remains that date back to pre- Hispanic and even pre- Incan period. Most of the burials here date back to 200 AD- 900 AD. People who were buried here belonged to the Nasca people who were also famous for creation of the Nasca Lines that are situated nearby. No one knows why they chose the site on the bank of Poroma river as the site of their necropolis, but it is possible that it played an important role in the religion of these people.
Chauchilla Cemetery (Cementerio de Chauchilla) is an ancient necropolis located in southern Peru, renowned for its well-preserved mummified remains and artifacts from the Nazca culture. Dating from approximately 200 AD to the 9th century AD, the site spans about 600–700 years of use and serves as a key archaeological window into pre-Hispanic burial practices in the region. It contains mud-brick tombs housing family groups, with mummies still retaining hair, skin, and embroidered cotton clothing, often arranged in a fetal position or seated posture. The cemetery was extensively looted by grave robbers (huaqueros) until protective measures were implemented in 1997, after which restoration efforts began to reorganize scattered bones and pottery. Today, it stands as Peru's largest display of mummified bodies in their original graves and a significant tourist attraction, even featuring in the film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
The cemetery is situated 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of the city of Nazca in the Ica Region, near the Poroma riverbed in the arid Peruvian Desert. Its coordinates are approximately 14°59′00″S 74°55′35″W, and it is accessible via a dirt road branching off the Panamerican Highway. The surrounding landscape is characterized by extreme dryness, with minimal rainfall and high temperatures, which has played a crucial role in the natural preservation of the remains. Nearby sites include the Nazca Lines and the Estaquería archaeological complex, where wooden pillars may have been used in mummification processes. The desert environment, part of the Nazca Valley, features sand dunes and sparse vegetation like cacti, contributing to the site's eerie, open-air atmosphere.
Chauchilla Cemetery was primarily used by the Nazca culture, flourishing from around 100 BC to AD 800, though burials at the site specifically date from c. 200 AD to the 9th century AD. Some sources suggest influences from earlier Poroma and Ica cultures, with the site serving as a necropolis for over 1,000 years. The Nazca people believed in an afterlife or reincarnation, burying the deceased with offerings, personal treasures, and sometimes in family groups to aid their spiritual journey. The cemetery was discovered in the 1920s, but it remained largely unprotected until the late 20th century. Prior to official recognition, it was ravaged by grave robbers, scattering bones, pottery, and textiles across the desert. In 1997, Peruvian law provided legal protection, leading to restoration efforts that reassembled remains and artifacts into tombs.
As one of the few pre-Hispanic cemeteries in Peru where mummies remain in their original tombs, Chauchilla offers invaluable insights into Nazca funerary rites, social structure, and material culture. Artifacts such as pottery, textiles, and tools buried with the dead reflect the Nazca's advanced weaving and ceramic techniques. The site has been linked to nearby Estaquería, where wooden pillars might have been used for dehydrating bodies before burial. Excavations and studies, referenced in works like those by McGuinness and Box and Murph (2003), highlight its role in understanding Nazca society, including royalty who never cut their hair, resulting in long dreadlocks wrapped around bodies. Child mummies from 200–400 AD, preserved in remarkable condition, underscore beliefs in the afterlife. Recent mentions in archaeological contexts also note unusual hair colors, from brown to light red, raising questions about genetics or environmental factors.
The necropolis consists of open-air mud-brick tombs arranged in clusters, many exposed to the elements, allowing visitors to view mummies directly in their graves. Mummies are often seated or in fetal positions, clothed in embroidered cotton, with preserved hair (sometimes in long dreadlocks exceeding body length), skin, and even teeth. Artifacts include ceramics, textiles, and offerings like mollusk shells. Some mummies exhibit light red or chestnut hair, a feature noted in 700-year-old remains, possibly due to natural pigments or post-mortem changes. An onsite museum displays additional finds, including child mummies and scattered bones from looting.
The exceptional preservation is due to the hyper-arid desert climate of the Ica Valley, which naturally desiccates bodies, combined with Nazca funerary practices. Bodies were painted with a resin that inhibited bacterial and insect decay, and possibly dried on wooden pillars at Estaquería before interment. This process, along with the low humidity, has kept soft tissues intact for over a millennium.
The primary threat has been looting by huaqueros, who scattered remains and sold artifacts on the black market, with significant damage occurring before 1997. Environmental factors like wind erosion also pose risks. Since 1997, Peruvian laws have protected the site, enabling restoration where bones and pottery were returned to tombs. Ongoing efforts include site monitoring and displays to educate visitors, though nearby cemeteries have suffered more extensive plundering.
Chauchilla is a popular day trip from Nazca, with guided tours lasting about two hours and costing around 8 soles (PEN, approximately $2 USD) for entry. Visitors can explore the open tombs, view mummies up close, and visit the small onsite museum. Tours often combine with Nazca Lines flights or visits to nearby sites like Cahuachi. The site gained fame from its role in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, depicting it with fictional elements like hidden chambers overlooking the Nazca Valley. Tips include wearing sun protection due to the intense desert heat and respecting site rules against touching remains. Recent visitor accounts from 2024 describe selfies with mummies and the eerie atmosphere.
Chauchilla is unique as Peru's only known pre-Hispanic cemetery with mummies in original tombs, featuring dreadlocked royalty and unusually colored hair (light red or chestnut) that sparks debates on ancient genetics. Its open-air exposure contrasts with enclosed museums, offering a direct encounter with the past, though this has fueled looting and modern myths, including unsubstantiated alien connections dismissed as composites of animal and human bones. The site's cultural ties to the Nazca Lines enhance its mystique, making it a "biodiversity hotspot" for archaeological wonders in an otherwise barren landscape.