16:30 | Trujillo (La Libertad region), Jun. 15.
The
Decentralized Directorate of Culture (DDC) in La Libertad region confirmed the attack on the country's cultural heritage and condemned the total destruction of the pre-Hispanic Triple Spiral geoglyph, located in the Quebrada Santo Domingo archaeological zone, Laredo district, Trujillo province, La Libertad region, northern Peru.
In an official statement, the DDC in La Libertad lamented the damage to the geoglyph, considered a valuable testament to the pre-Hispanic societies that inhabited Peru's northern coast more than 1,000 years ago.
According to the Culture sector, specialists and National Police agents verified that the archaeological figure was intentionally erased through the manual removal of soil, resulting in the total loss of this evidence linked to water worship and management practices among ancient coastal societies.
The incident occurred just days after the Ministry of Culture carried out an extrajudicial recovery operation in the protected area of Quebrada Santo Domingo, where illegal structures were removed and individuals occupying State-managed land were evicted.
The institution noted that the sequence of events suggests the geoglyph's destruction may have been carried out in retaliation for the recovery and protection measures undertaken to safeguard cultural heritage.
During a post-incident inspection, authorities also found evidence indicating the illegal presence of individuals within the protected area in the days preceding the destruction.
The Ministry of Culture indicated that these elements will be incorporated into the investigations aimed at identifying and sanctioning those responsible for the damage, which has been deemed irreparable to the Nation's cultural heritage.
The Quebrada Santo Domingo Archaeological Zone covers more than 1,500 hectares registered as State property and preserves evidence of human occupation dating from approximately 11,000 years ago to the 15th century AD.
It is considered an area of particular importance for scientific research and the preservation of Peru's historical memory.
Specialists state that the Triple Spiral was a geoglyph composed of continuous lines measuring approximately 15 meters in length. It was symbolically associated with water and its different states.
The monument had previously been damaged in 2015 by land invaders seeking to occupy archaeological land for agricultural activities.
The Ministry of Culture subsequently undertook specialized restoration work.
The Culture sector announced that it will pursue all necessary administrative, civil, and criminal actions to determine responsibility.
The government agency also urged authorities and citizens to join efforts to combat illegal land trafficking and protect the country's cultural heritage.
Residents and specialists have called for immediate and permanent intervention by authorities in response to the spread of invasions and illegal occupations in archaeological areas of La Libertad.
The problem threatens important remnants of the pre-Hispanic history of northern Peru.
(END) NDP/MAO/MVB
Published: 6/15/2026