Huaca La Florida — Rímac Valley Initial Period Pyramid
Initial Period, c.1700–1200 BCE·Manchay (Lima Initial Period, Casma–Rímac tradition)·🇵🇪 Lima Province, Rímac Valley, Peru
About
About Huaca La Florida — Rímac Valley Initial Period Pyramid
Huaca La Florida — largest remaining Initial Period pyramid in the Rímac valley (c.1700–1200 BCE), 213 × 65 m base, 17 m high, U-shaped with central stair and circular sunken court. Ravines & Patterson excavated 1960s revealing 7 construction phases, stone-facing with mud mortar and plaster. Threatened by Lima urban spread but conserved as Parque Arqueológico.
Why it mattersLargest Rímac U-shaped Initial pyramid proving coastal valley ceremonial centre before Chavín.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Rímac has 3 U-pyramids (Florida, Garagay, La Florida Baja) within 5 km?
Theories
- 01Lima valley tri-pyramid system = pre-state chiefly theatre
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.1700 BCE, expanded c.1400 BCE
- Period
- Initial Period, c.1700–1200 BCE
- Culture
- Manchay (Lima Initial Period, Casma–Rímac tradition)
- Builders
- Rímac valley Initial Period communities
- Purpose
- Ceremonial U-shaped pyramid — valley axis shrine with sunken court
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1700 BCE, expanded c.1400 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c.800 CE
Major refurbishment / enlargement phase
c.1100 CE
Abandonment or conversion
1890–1930
Modern rediscovery and first scientific survey
On the ground
Structures & features
12.0190° S · 76.9840° W · 180 m · 2 mapped features
U-shaped lateral arms and central stair
platformTwo lateral wings forming U with central stair descending to lower plaza
12.0189° S · 76.9839° WCircular sunken court frontal
plaza22 m diameter circular sunken court on lower plaza axis
12.0191° S · 76.9841° W