Cahuachi Sector Y
Cahuachi Sector Y Pyramid · Nazca Cahuachi Y
Early Intermediate Nazca 1 BCE–500 CE with Initial 400 BCE foundations·Nazca (with Paracas antecedent)·🇵🇪 Ica, Nazca Province, Peru
About
About Cahuachi Sector Y
Sector Y 500 m west of Great Pyramid at Cahuachi: adobe (adobito) pyramid 8 m high 40×35 m base with plastered terrace for feasting middens and Paracas-Cahuachi polychrome offering cache (head jars). Excavated by Orefici CISRAP; shows Cahuachi was pilgrimage center not city, with sector Y as temporary lodging barrio for pilgrims from Pampa de Jumana lines.
Why it mattersDemonstrates Cahuachi pilgrimage model via sector Y feasting terrace linking Nazca Lines pampa to ceremonial adobes.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01How Sector Y feasting middens relate to Nazca trophy-head jars
- 02Whether sector Y mound aligns to Cerros Blancas lines
Theories
- 01Pilgrim barracks for Nazca Lines ritual gathering
- 02Cahuachi hydraulic cult feasting before line walking
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.400 BCE–500 CE (Paracas to Nazca)
- Period
- Early Intermediate Nazca 1 BCE–500 CE with Initial 400 BCE foundations
- Culture
- Nazca (with Paracas antecedent)
- Builders
- Nazca
- Purpose
- Adobito pyramid 8 m high in sector Y west of Great Temple, pilgrimage lodging and ceramic offering mound
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.400 BCE–500 CE (Paracas to Nazca)
Initial construction
500 CE with Initial 400 BCE foundations
Major occupation / refurbishment
On the ground
Structures & features
14.8140° S · 75.1160° W · 368 m · 2 mapped features
Sector Y adobito pyramid
pyramid8 m pyramid with plastered feasting terrace
14.8130° S · 75.1150° WFeasting midden terrace
terrace15 m terrace with Paracas polychrome head-jar offering cache
14.8150° S · 75.1170° W