Chauchilla Cemetery

Chauchilla Cemetery in Nazca, Peru, is an ancient Nazca burial place. This cemetery that was used between the 2nd and 9th centuries AD. The Peruvian desert environment, combined with Nazca burial methods, ensured that the bodies were in great condition despite the passage of time, with many still having hair and skin intact. The Nazca employed resin to coat their skin and mud-brick-lined tombs to keep moisture and bacteria away.

The burial grounds were stolen and looted over the centuries, and many of the dead were scattered across the grounds or left in open graves. The Nazca bodies are still wrapped in the original cloth in which they were laid to rest, which is exceptionally well-preserved. According to the Nazca culture, all the corpses face east and are in the sitting position.

Today, mummified bodies, as well as pottery and textile fragments, clutter the ground and open graves. Some people find this type of 'dark tourism' unsettling, so it's worth thinking about how you feel about it before going. Keep in mind that these are human remains, and they should be treated with respect.

Location: Chauchilla, Nazca, Peru