El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple
Moche (100 BCE–700 CE) Cao 450 CE mural facade; Wari-Chimú upper 800–1300; Cao Lady tomb 450 CE intrusive·Moche → Lambayeque/Chimú → Inca·🇵🇪 La Libertad, Chicama Valley, near Magdalena de Cao, El Brujo Complex, Huaca Cao Viejo, Peru
About
About El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple
El Brujo excavated by Franco 1990–, Lady of Cao 2005 tattooed ruler with 23 weapons. Recorded context — Period: Moche (100 BCE–700 CE) Cao 450 CE mural facade; Wari-Chimú upper 800–1300; Cao Lady tomb 450 CE intrusive; Culture: Moche → Lambayeque/Chimú → Inca; Field status: excavated; Materials: adobe polychrome, tattooed mummy skin, gold nose ornament; Condition: preserved — roofed.
Why it mattersKey Moche → Lambayeque/Chimú → Inca temple-complex with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of enclosure
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Cao Viejo pyramid stage c.450 CE polychrome war-god 4 m
- Period
- Moche (100 BCE–700 CE) Cao 450 CE mural facade; Wari-Chimú upper 800–1300; Cao Lady tomb 450 CE intrusive
- Culture
- Moche → Lambayeque/Chimú → Inca
- Purpose
- Moche truncated pyramid (120 m × 100 m × 30 m = Huaca Cao Viejo) with polychrome war-god frieze and Lady of Cao mummy 450 CE tattooed mummy with war clubs and nose bar golden
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1980
- Excavation
- Excavated
2005 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple
c. 1200 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple
On the ground
Structures & features
7.9120° S · 79.3030° W · 70 m · 4 mapped features
- El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple — Principal Templetempletemple at El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple — hydraulic feature7.9132° S · 79.3046° W
- El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple — Northern Altaraltaraltar at El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple — subsidiary complex7.9108° S · 79.3020° W
- El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple — Shrine Annex 3shrineshrine at El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple — subsidiary complex7.9110° S · 79.3021° W
- El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple — Eastern Templetempletemple at El Brujo — Cao Viejo Huaca and Lady of Cao Temple — primary structure7.9104° S · 79.3017° W
Gallery