The Ministry of Culture has initiated a new research campaign in the marine area surrounding the El Huarco Archaeological Complex, a significant coastal heritage site located in the district of Cerro Azul, Cañete province, south of Lima.
The El Huarco Archaeological Complex is a significant pre-Inca and Inca site that served as the administrative centre of the powerful Kingdom of Huarco (or Guarco), which controlled the lower Cañete valley during the Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000–1470).
According to officials, the project is intended not only to preserve the architectural remains visible on land, but also document and protect any submerged archaeological evidence that constitutes an essential component of the site’s historical context.
Between December 15th and 17th, a team of specialists conducted systematic fieldwork in the waters adjacent to the archaeological complex.
The survey identified a range of underwater features, including Inca-period stone walls, artefacts associated with early navigation, and material evidence suggesting the presence of a vessel of as yet undetermined chronology.
All findings were georeferenced and recorded, producing the most comprehensive dataset to date on the site’s submerged heritage.
The information obtained will serve as the basis for the preparation of a dossier to support the formal declaration of the area as of “Cultural Heritage of the Nation”. Such recognition would establish a legal framework for the protection of the marine sector of El Huarco and contribute to the long-term conservation of its archaeological remains.
Local knowledge has played a key role in this process. For decades, residents have reported the recovery of cultural objects from the sea, many of which were transferred to municipal custody and are now part of the collection of the Municipal Museum of Cerro Azul.
While traditional activities such as artisanal fishing, recreational diving, and coastal navigation are regarded as compatible with heritage management, authorities have expressed concern over the extraction of stones from the intertidal zone for construction, a practice that threatens both archaeological deposits and marine ecosystems.
The current study builds upon earlier initiatives, including the first underwater survey conducted in 2014 and the renewed efforts launched in 2024 under the Ministry of Culture’s Fortaleza program.
Through these actions, the Ministry of Culture reiterates that the safeguarding of Peru’s cultural heritage is a shared responsibility, dependent on sustained collaboration between public institutions and the coastal communities directly connected to these historic landscapes.
Sources : Peruvian State
