Huaca La Florida — Rímac Valley U-Temple
Huaca La Florida · La Florida Pyramid · Temple U La Florida
Initial Period, c.1800-1000 BCE (Preceramic U-temple)·Andean (Initial Period, Rímac–Chillón tradition)·🇵🇪 Lima Metropolitan, Peru
About
About Huaca La Florida — Rímac Valley U-Temple
Huaca La Florida in Collique hills north Lima: U-shaped pyramidal temple 350 m long, 40 m deep platform, 15 m high, with central court and lateral wings forming U open to east. Excavated by Patterson (1970), Flores Espinoza, Makowski. Contained Cupisnique-Chavín ceramics, central huaca with adobe and stone. Associated with Lima-preceramic tradition linking El Paraíso (2000 BCE) to Garagay (1400 BCE). Intact U-shape demonstrates Andean temple U tradition (Cardal, Las Shicras). Looted but main platform intact under shantytown buffering.
Why it mattersKey Andean (Initial Period, Rímac–Chillón tradition) pyramid with stratified sequence and regional importance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Rímac U-temples like La Florida abandoned before Chavín horizon
- 02Relation to nearby Collique huacas and Garagay
Theories
- 01La Florida as Rímac valley center in Initial Period before centralization to Garagay-Pachacamac
- 02U-shaped pyramid as astronomical and water cult alignment to equinox sunrise
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 (Initial Period, preceramic, contemporary with El Paraíso)
- Period
- Initial Period, c.1800-1000 BCE (Preceramic U-temple)
- Culture
- Andean (Initial Period, Rímac–Chillón tradition)
- Purpose
- Massive U-shaped pyramid temple (Temple U) at La Florida in northern Lima — largest Initial Period huaca in Rímac Valley (350×200 m), precursor to Garagay
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1700 BCE
Platform begun — adobe-stone U-shaped temple
c.1200 BCE
Lateral wings added — Cupisnique phase
c.800 BCE
Abandonment — Chavín horizon shift
1970
Patterson survey
1980s
Flores excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
12.0144° S · 77.0125° W · 280 m · 2 mapped features
U-shaped principal pyramid platform
pyramidMassive U-shaped platform 350 m long with central mound 15 m high and lateral wings enclosing court
12.0144° S · 77.0125° WEastern court and lateral wings
courtEastern open court with plastered floors and lateral elevated wings flanking processional axis
12.0145° S · 77.0126° W
Gallery