The site of Chan Chan was first excavated by the Harvard
University Chan Chan/Moche Valley Project which was led by the archaeologists Michael
E. Moseley and Carol Mackey. The project which began in June 1969 was supported
by the National Geographic Society and the National Science Foundation. The
main mission of the project stated by Moseley himself was “ The project is a
multidisciplinary inquiry of human adaptation within the Moche Valley from
man’s first appearances through the development and course of urban life. The
study is designed to provide a basic understanding of the history and
