Huaca La Centinela — Chincha Pyramid Complex (Ica Region, Peru)
La Centinela · Huaca Centinela · Chincha pyramid
Late Intermediate to Late Horizon (1200–1476 CE, Inca 1476–1532)·Chincha (Ica regional) / Inca occupied·🇵🇪 Ica Region, Chincha Province, Peru
About
About Huaca La Centinela — Chincha Pyramid Complex (Ica Region, Peru)
Flagship adobe pyramid complex of the maritime Chincha Kingdom (1200–1476 CE), sole coastal polity to sustain independent kingdom beside Chan Chan at Inca conquest (recorded by Inca Garcilaso). Two pyramids: Centinela pyramid (30x25 m, 12 m high) and Tambo de Mora (adobe palace citadel 200x200 m walled enclosure with pyramidal platform and elite cemetery of 500 shaft tombs). Complex controlled guano trade and balsas navigation with archipelago polity. Late Intermediate Wari successor with Inca mitmaq reoccupation layer above.
Why it mattersCapital of only maritime Andean kingdom; documents pre-Inca naval trade to Ecuador and Inca diplomatic incorporation (Chincha as Inca admiral).
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chincha navigation range — how far north to Mesoamerica
- 02Population estimate 100,000+ — sustaining coastal desert economy
Theories
- 01Pyramid as admiralty palace for Chincha merchant fleet controlling Spondylus route
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.1200–1450 CE (Late Intermediate Chincha), Inca use 1450–1532 CE
- Period
- Late Intermediate to Late Horizon (1200–1476 CE, Inca 1476–1532)
- Culture
- Chincha (Ica regional) / Inca occupied
- Builders
- Chincha Kingdom
- Purpose
- Pyramid-palace citadel governing Chimú-Chincha-Chincha trade and maritime balsa empire
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1200–1450 CE (Late Intermediate Chincha), Inca use 1450–1532 CE
Initial construction
c. 1565 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
13.4520° S · 76.1720° W · 85 m · 2 mapped features
Centinela main pyramid
pyramid12 m adobe pyramid over shaft cemetery, central hill
13.4520° S · 76.1720° WTambo de Mora palace enclosure
palace enclosure200x200 m walled citadel with pyramidal platform summit, 300 m southeast
13.4540° S · 76.1705° W
Gallery