Huaca Huallamarca (Pan de Azúcar) Pyramid
Huaca Huallamarca · Pan de Azúcar · Huallamarca Temple · Wowllamarca
Early Intermediate (Lima 200–700)·Lima culture (Rímac) / later Ychsma-Inca·🇵🇪 Lima, San Isidro, Huaca Huallamarca, Peru
About
About Huaca Huallamarca (Pan de Azúcar) Pyramid
Classic Lima culture rammed-earth truncated pyramid (c. 200–600 CE) within San Isidro district, Lima — originally Pinazo? Actually Huallamarca culture then Lima. Massive pyramid of enormous adobe 'librito' (small brick) and rammed earth (tapial) technique, 100 × 80 m base 20 m high three-tier truncated pyramid with ramps, painted walls and elite burials (Huallamarca mummy bundle with false head). Overbuilt Late Horizon Inca Ychsma repainting. Extensively conserved as site museum in urban park. Excavated by Jijón, Patterson, Clide Valladolid, Thomas Patterson. Star example of Lima culture monumentalism inside modern metropolis.
Why it mattersLargest conserved Lima culture huaca within Lima metropolis; librito vs later Wari large adobe typology; urban archaeology success.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Burial chronology — which pyramid tier burials belong
- 02Ychsma-Inca repainting extent
Theories
- 01Lima culture monumental proxy for earlier U-tradition revival
- 02Rammed earth technique environmental adaptation
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. 200–600 CE (Early Intermediate, Lima culture)
- Period
- Early Intermediate (Lima 200–700)
- Culture
- Lima culture (Rímac) / later Ychsma-Inca
- Builders
- Lima Rímac builders (later Ychsma reuse)
- Purpose
- Truncated pyramid temple with burials and museum
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 200–600 CE (Early Intermediate, Lima culture)
Initial construction
c. 1406 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
12.0974° S · 77.0405° W · 30 m · 3 mapped features
Three-tier truncated pyramid
pyramid100×80 m 20 m ramped pyramid
12.0975° S · 77.0406° WRamp access south
rampMain ramp to summit
12.0973° S · 77.0404° WMummy bundle burial chamber
tombElite tomb with false head NW tier
12.0976° S · 77.0407° W
Gallery