Pampa de las Llamas — Moxeke Pyramid (Santa Valley)
Moxeke · Moxeque · Pampa de las Llamas Moxeke · Moxeke pyramid
Initial Period (Moxeke–Casma)·Moxeke / Casma (Initial Period)·🇵🇪 Áncash, Santa Valley — Pampa de las Llamas-Moxeke (16 km south of Casma), near Nepena mouth, Peru
About
About Pampa de las Llamas — Moxeke Pyramid (Santa Valley)
Major Initial Period urban pyramid at Moxeke (Pampa de las Llamas, Santa Valley) — two massive enclosed compounds: Moxeke Pyramid (160×170 m base, 30 m high, earlier mis-reported 30 m but re-survey 100×170? New: platform 160×170 m with 30 m high northern mound) and Huaca A (140×150 m) facing across 1.3 ha plaza, c. 1800–900 BCE. One of largest early Andean centres, contemporary with Sechín Alto (300×250 m) and Salinas de Chao. Site-wide adobe enclosure with fort-like walls controls access. Top of Moxeke holds clay friezes (felines, human figures) excavated by Pozorskis. Rivals Sechín for scale of Initial Period collective labour.
Why it mattersLargest Initial Period site after Sechín Alto; shows Casma–Santa valley urban tradition independent of Caral; dual pyramid plaza anticipates later plaza-pairs.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Labour organization for 4 million cubic metres fill
- 02Frieze iconography — feline vs human
Theories
- 01Moxeke–Huaca A dual pyramid is intentional dualism for moiety society
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. 1800–900 BCE (Initial Period, Moxeke phase)
- Period
- Initial Period (Moxeke–Casma)
- Culture
- Moxeke / Casma (Initial Period)
- Builders
- Moxeke polity (Santa Valley chiefs)
- Purpose
- Twin pyramid ceremonial city (dual temples facing)
- Abandoned
- c. 900 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1973 (Pozorskis & Wilson)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1800–900 BCE (Initial Period, Moxeke phase)
Initial construction
c. 1282 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
9.4011° S · 78.0722° W · 120 m · 3 mapped features
Moxeke pyramid mass
pyramid160×170 m platform pyramid 30 m high
9.4011° S · 78.0722° WHuaca A facing pyramid
pyramid140×150 m twin pyramid across plaza
9.4020° S · 78.0710° WClay frieze terrace
friezePolychrome feline/human frieze on north face
9.4010° S · 78.0725° W