Las Haldas
Las Haldas Archaeological Site · Las Haldas Pyramid Complex — Casma Sechin
Initial Period (Early Formative)·Casma–Sechín (Las Haldas coastal)·🇵🇪 Ancash, Casma, Peru
About
About Las Haldas
Arid coastal initial pyramid center (1800–1000 BCE) on dune 20 km south of Casma at 35 m above Samanco Bay, with four sequential sunken circular/plaza courts descending to Main Mound 18 m platform 100 m base, U-temple antecedent. Excavated by Frederic Engel 1958–; ceramics absent until later phase. Georeference -9.7°N -78.38°W. Investigation chronology and architecture as per Peru–Mexico survey consensus; extended description synthesizes excavation report dimensions and cultural phase via regional Atlas.
Why it mattersLargest Initial Period coastal platform in Casma without pottery; proves monumental platform tradition without ceramics.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Casma seacoast platform far from river — coastal irrigation without river adjacency
Theories
- 01Las Haldas as maritime food surplus platform financed monumentality without agriculture — seafood-to-cotton exchange loop
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.1800–1000 BCE
- Period
- Initial Period (Early Formative)
- Culture
- Casma–Sechín (Las Haldas coastal)
- Purpose
- Large coastal pyramid platform center without ceramics yet
- Abandoned
- c.900 CE
- Rediscovered
- 20th c. survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
9.7000° S · 78.3800° W · 35 m · 2 mapped features
Las Haldas central pyramid/structure
pyramidFour plazas platform 40 ha; main mound 18 m high 100 m base primary mound/structure
9.6990° S · 78.3800° WLas Haldas plaza/causeway component
earthworkAssociated plaza and causeway/road segment flanking main architecture
9.7010° S · 78.3790° W
Gallery