Seven Arrested for Illegal Excavations at Peru's Nazca Lines Heritage Site

Peruvian authorities have arrested seven people for illegally excavating and digging trenches within the Nazca Lines and Geoglyphs Archaeological Reserve. The arrests occurred in the Chauchilla sector, an area designated as national cultural heritage since 2004. The individuals were discovered during an inspection by the Directorate of Culture of Ica.

During the operation, authorities also noted the installation of posts for fencing the area, along with construction materials and equipment. Two pickup trucks were found on site. The Ministry of Culture reported the incident on June 17. Initially, the detainees claimed they were working for a company called Bozz Metal, but later stated a private citizen linked to the property had ordered the work. They presented documents to support this revised claim.

Despite their statements, the individuals were detained by order of the Public Ministry as investigations continue to determine responsibility for the damage to cultural heritage. The Ministry of Culture emphasized that the Chauchilla archaeological landscape is a vital testament to pre-Hispanic societies in the Nazca basin. The illegal activities pose a significant threat to the conservation of archaeological contexts and the integrity of the cultural assets within this important heritage site.

This event occurs shortly after the complete destruction of the Triple Spiral geoglyph in Trujillo, La Libertad region. That figure, over 1,000 years old and part of the national cultural heritage, was eliminated through manual excavation, representing an irreversible loss to Peru's historical patrimony.