Huaca Larga Norte — Tucume Extended Platform
Huaca Larga North · Túcume Huaca Larga Norte · Extended Huaca Larga
Late Intermediate to Late Horizon (Lambayeque–Chimú–Inca)·Lambayeque / Chimú / Inca·🇵🇪 Lambayeque, Túcume — northern extension of Huaca Larga platform beyond main Túcume complex, Peru
About
About Huaca Larga Norte — Tucume Extended Platform
Northern platform extension of Huaca Larga at Túcume (Valley of the Pyramids) — massive adobe platform 150×100 m base, 20 m high, attached to main Huaca Larga (700 m long) but catalogued separately here as northern construction phase c. 1450 CE late Lambayeque–Chimú. Shows progressive northward growth of Túcume's 26 pyramids over 400 years (Lambayeque to Inca). Excavated by Thor Heyerdahl Project (1988–94, Narváez, Shimada) who mapped 26 pyramids. Distinguished by Inca-period adobe capping atop Chimú core.
Why it mattersDocuments stepwise northward urban growth of Túcume 26-pyramid city over 400 years; Inca capping shows imperial addition type.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Túcume moved northward stepwise
- 02Chimú vs Lambayeque phase markers
Theories
- 01Inca added north platform to impose Cuzco-style governance on Lambayeque capital
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. 1450 CE (Late Lambayeque–Chimú, pre-Inca)
- Period
- Late Intermediate to Late Horizon (Lambayeque–Chimú–Inca)
- Culture
- Lambayeque / Chimú / Inca
- Builders
- Chimú then Inca overlords of Túcume
- Purpose
- Ceremonial platform extension of capital
- Abandoned
- c. 1532 CE (Spanish)
- Rediscovered
- 1988 (Thor Heyerdahl Túcume Project)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1450 CE (Late Lambayeque–Chimú, pre-Inca)
Initial construction
c. 1431 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
6.5056° S · 79.8386° W · 40 m · 3 mapped features
Huaca Larga North platform
pyramid150×100 m adobe platform 20 m
6.5056° S · 79.8386° WInca adobe cap
platformInca-period flat-topped addition atop Chimú core
6.5053° S · 79.8387° WNorth ramp
rampRamp access north side
6.5057° S · 79.8384° W
Gallery