Huaca Huallamarca
Huallamarca Huaca · Pan de Azúcar Huaca · San Isidro Huaca · Huaca Huallamarca (San Isidro)
Early Intermediate Lima pyramid (300–600 CE), Middle Horizon Wari cemetery (600–800 CE), Late Intermediate Ychsma/Inca shrine (1000–1500 CE)·Lima / Wari / Ychsma–Inca (triple palimpsest)·🇵🇪 Lima Region, San Isidro District central Lima, corner of Nicolás de Rivera and El Rosario, Peru
About
About Huaca Huallamarca
Triple-use huaca in San Isidro central Lima: truncated adobe pyramid 85×65 m 25 m high (Lima culture 300–600 CE sand-and-adobe) over Preceramic midden, with Middle Horizon Wari cemetery (600–800 CE) intrusive shaft tombs with 50+ fardos mummy bundles in seated position with masks, then Ychsma and Inca temple reuse. Three periods superimposed: 1) Lima pyramid with ramps, 2) Wari shaft-necropolis, 3) Inca shrine. Excavated Jiménez Borja 1958, re-studied Dulanto. Site museum houses Wari mummy bundles with false heads.
Why it mattersOnly stratified Lima–Wari–Inca palimpsest in Lima; fardo burials with masks; Jiménez Borja 1958 pioneering San Isidro huaca.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Wari reused Lima pyramid intensively as cemetery vs Pucllana continuity
- 02San Isidro vs Rimac Lima polity relation
Theories
- 01Huallamarca as Lima temple converted to Wari imperial elite necropolis after Wari conquest
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 CE Lima pyramid built; Wari shaft tombs c.700 CE cut into it
- Period
- Early Intermediate Lima pyramid (300–600 CE), Middle Horizon Wari cemetery (600–800 CE), Late Intermediate Ychsma/Inca shrine (1000–1500 CE)
- Culture
- Lima / Wari / Ychsma–Inca (triple palimpsest)
- Purpose
- Palimpsest truncated pyramid — Lima ceremonial platform later densely reused as Wari elite fardo cemetery and Inca shrine
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.400 CE Lima pyramid built; Wari shaft tombs c.700 CE cut into it
Initial construction / foundation
c. 850 CE
Major use phase and refurbishment
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
12.0960° S · 77.0330° W · 68 m · 3 mapped features
Truncated Lima pyramid
pyramid85×65 m adobe pyramid with northern ramp
12.0960° S · 77.0330° WWari fardo shaft cemetery
cemeteryIntrusive shafts 3 m with 50+ seated fardos and masks
12.0958° S · 77.0328° WInca shrine platform
shrineUpper adobe shrine with Inca offering niches
12.0962° S · 77.0332° W
Gallery