Chimú culture - predecessors of the Incas

The Kingdom of Chimor flourished on the coast of Peru around 900 AD. Its capital Chan Chan was located to the west of modern-day Trujillo and was the largest city in pre-colonial South America with an estimated 60,000 inhabitants. Beginning in 1470, the Incas subjugated the powerful kingdom and also adopted the masterful blacksmithing and pottery skills of the Chimú culture. When the Spanish conquered the Inca Empire around 50 years later, they captured gold worth 80,000 Pesos from a tomb in Chan Chan. 

Tumi ceremonial knives

Among the most important examples of Chimú craftsmanship are the so-called "tumi", ceremonial knives with a semi-circular blade. They were usually made of gold or copper and were used for religious purposes. The handle was often shaped like a mythological figure. The best-known of those ceremonial knives was the "Tumi de Oro" of the Lambayeque (or Sicán), who were conquered by the Chimú around 1375. The striking figure of this artifact represents Ñaymlap, the main god and legendary founder of the Lambayeque culture. Today, the tumi is a national symbol of Peru.

The largest adobe city in the world

Since 1986, Chan Chan, with the remains of nine citadels and numerous smaller buildings, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covering an area of about 20 square kilometers (7.7 sq mi), it is considered to be the largest adobe city in the world. Due to erosion and rainfall, however, the World Heritage Site of Chan Chan is classified as endangered.