Peru's Ministry of Culture condemns destruction of ancient Triple Spiral geoglyph, vows legal action

Peru's Ministry of Culture has condemned the total destruction of the ancient Triple Spiral geoglyph, a significant pre-Hispanic artifact located in the Quebrada Santo Domingo archaeological zone in Trujillo, La Libertad region. The ministry's Decentralized Directorate of Culture (DDC) confirmed the irreversible damage after an inspection with police.

The geoglyph, believed to be over a thousand years old and linked to ancient water practices on Peru's northern coast, was eliminated through manual excavation. Officials described the act as an irreparable loss to the nation's historical heritage. The destruction occurred shortly after an operation to remove illegal constructions and evict occupants from the protected intangible zone of Quebrada Santo Domingo.

Authorities are investigating a potential connection between the recent evictions and the geoglyph's destruction. Evidence of unauthorized presence within the protected area was found during the subsequent inspection, which will be used to identify responsible parties. The DDC La Libertad issued a strong statement, urging collaboration to combat illegal land trafficking and protect cultural heritage.

Sandra Barrantes, deputy director of the DDC La Libertad, reported that five individuals identified on June 9 by police during an intervention are now part of the criminal complaint filed by the Ministry of Culture. The ministry is committed to pursuing all administrative, civil, and criminal actions to ensure accountability and requests swift investigations into the matter.