Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound
Moche (100–800 CE) 340 m long·Moche·🇵🇪 La Libertad, Moche Valley, opposite Luna, near Moche urban corridor, Peru
About
About Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound
Moche Spanish flooded mine 1602 removed 2/3, 340 m mound traced by Moseley. Recorded context — Period: Moche (100–800 CE) 340 m long; Culture: Moche; Field status: partially excavated; Materials: adobe, maker-mark bricks; Condition: eroded — Spanish redirected Moche River 1602 to mine.
Why it mattersKey Moche pyramid with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of enclosure
- 02Construction labor organization
Theories
- 01Observatory
- 02Elite residence
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. 100 CE start; 450 CE peak with 4 platforms
- Period
- Moche (100–800 CE) 340 m long
- Culture
- Moche
- Purpose
- South America's largest adobe structure (340 m × 160 m × 30 m, 140 million bricks) — Moche administrative palace across Rio Moche from Luna temple
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1972
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1200 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound
c. 100 CE start; 450 CE peak with 4 platforms
Initial construction / first occupation at Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound
1920 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound
On the ground
Structures & features
8.1380° S · 79.0000° W · 40 m · 4 mapped features
- Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound — Principal Pyramidpyramidpyramid at Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound — hydraulic feature8.1361° S · 79.0018° W
- Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound — Northern Chamberchamberchamber at Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound — hydraulic feature8.1371° S · 79.0000° W
- Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound — Southern Causewaycausewaycauseway at Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound — hydraulic feature8.1381° S · 78.9988° W
- Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound — Eastern Pyramidpyramidpyramid at Huaca del Sol — Moche Largest Adobe Mound — hydraulic feature8.1380° S · 79.0017° W
Gallery