Chan-Chan, Archaeological site and beach in Valdivia Province, Chile

Chan-Chan is an archaeological site and beach south of Mehuín, in the commune of Mariquina, Los Ríos Region. The beach runs from the Huezhui tombolo in the north to a peninsula in the south, and the site lies above it on a coastal terrace built of volcanic rocks, retransported mollusc shells, sands, gravel and peat.

People settled at this location roughly 6000 to 7000 years ago, creating two distinct periods of occupation during the Middle Archaic era. These early phases show how long this coastal area has attracted human settlement.

The site's remains are linked by archaeologists to the Chanchaense Complex, a culture Osvaldo Menghin proposed as extending from Quiriquina Island to Tierra del Fuego. The Spanish sources also connect the human traces at Chan-Chan with the old Huilliche-Lafquenche presence in the Mariquina area.

The site is accessible through the Mehuín area, with trails leading to both the beach and excavation zones. It is best explored during low tide when more coastal ground is exposed and paths are easier to walk.

Researchers found grey obsidian tools here that came from the distant Chaitén Volcano, showing that these early coastal people knew trade routes spanning hundreds of kilometers. These distant connections suggest inhabitants built far-reaching networks for exchanging raw materials.