Chen Chen geoglyph, Ancient geoglyph site near Moquegua, Peru
The Chen Chen geoglyphs are large camelid figures carved into hillsides southwest of Moquegua at elevations between 1474 and 1534 meters. The etched lines cover the dry mountain landscape and display various animal figures at different scales.
The geoglyphs originated from the Tiwanaku civilization, which flourished along the southern Andean coast of Peru around 700 to 1000 CE. This era marked the creation of large hillside figures throughout the region.
Nine llama and alpaca silhouettes form the central group of figures. These animals were essential to daily life and spiritual practices in ancient Andean communities.
The site lies about one and a half kilometers southwest of Moquegua along the highway toward Bolivia. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best viewing conditions, as sunlight creates shadows that define the carved edges.
The animal figures become most visible during early morning or late afternoon when sunlight casts long shadows across the hillside. This natural lighting makes the otherwise faint lines stand out sharply.
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