Piruru Pyramid-Temple (Huánuco — Lauricocha)
Piruro · Piruru · Templo Piruru · Lauricocha Piruru
Late Preceramic to Initial Period (Kotosh tradition)·Kotosh / Lauricocha (highland)·🇵🇪 Huánuco, Lauricocha — Piruru plateau above Marañón river, near Huánuco Viejo, Peru
About
About Piruru Pyramid-Temple (Huánuco — Lauricocha)
Late Preceramic to Early Horizon pyramidal temple complex at Piruru (Lauricocha, Huánuco) — 5 hectares of stone terraced hilltop with two successive temples: Piruru I (3000–2500 BCE? Early) circular pit and Piruru II (2000–1500 BCE) pyramidal temple platform 20×15 m, 6 m high, with stone chambers, retaining walls and Kotosh-religious architectural tradition. Upper Piruru II temple of cut shale with central niche and hearth. Excavated by Elisabeth Bonnier (French–Peruvian) 1969–86, re-evaluated by Bandurria–Piruru comparative. At 3800 m it is highest pyramidal temple in the Andes.
Why it mattersHighest pyramidal temple in Andes (3800 m) proving Kotosh Mito architectural tradition extended far south to Lauricocha highlands.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Relation to Kotosh cross-hand temple — contemporary or later
- 02Population supporting high altitude cereal agriculture
Theories
- 01Piruru is southern extension of Kotosh religious horizon into Huánuco basin
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. 3000–1200 BCE (Late Preceramic / Initial Period)
- Period
- Late Preceramic to Initial Period (Kotosh tradition)
- Culture
- Kotosh / Lauricocha (highland)
- Builders
- Highland Huánuco community
- Purpose
- Pyramidal temple with hearth ritual (Mito architectural tradition)
- Abandoned
- c. 1200 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1969 (Elisabeth Bonnier)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 3000–1200 BCE (Late Preceramic / Initial Period)
Initial construction
c. 1309 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
9.9456° S · 76.7172° W · 3800 m · 3 mapped features
Piruru II pyramid temple
pyramid20×15 m pyramidal platform 6 m atop hill
9.9456° S · 76.7172° WPiruru I circular temple below
templeEarlier circular pit temple beneath Piruru II
9.9458° S · 76.7175° WTerraced hilltop settlement
terrace250 m terracing with shale retaining walls
9.9453° S · 76.7170° W
Gallery