Archaeological sites in Peru

Archaeological sites in Peru are numerous and diverse, representing different aspects including temples and fortresses of the various cultures of ancient Peru, such as the Moche and Nazca. The sites vary in importance from small local sites to UNESCO World Heritage sites of global importance. Their nature and complexity of the sites vary from small single-featured sites such as pyramids to entire cities, such as Chan Chan and Machu Picchu. Preservation and investigation of these sites are controlled mainly by the National Institute for Culture (INC) (Spanish: Instituto Nacional de Cultura). The lack of funding to protect sites and enforce existing laws, results in large scale looting and illegal trading of artifacts.