Sechín Alto — Principal Platform Mound
Initial Period, c.1800–1200 BCE (Sechin Culture)·Casma-Sechín (Andean Initial Period)·🇵🇪 Ancash, Casma-Sechín Basin, Peru
About
About Sechín Alto — Principal Platform Mound
Principal mound at Sechín Alto — largest architectural complex in the Americas before 2000 BCE (c.1800–1200 BCE, Initial Period Sechin Culture), 300 m long, 250 m wide, 35 m high platform mound with circular sunken plaza 1. Central axis U-shaped, connected to Sechín Bajo and Cerro Sechín. R. & S. Pozorski excavated 1992-on revealing massive fill and plaster façades. UNESCO Tentative Casma-Sechin.
Why it mattersLargest Archaic complex in New World before 1400 BCE; Casma valley centrality.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Organizational labor for 2 million m³ fill pre-state
Theories
- 01Sechin Alto as valley assembly pilgrimage centre
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 BCE core, 1600–1400 BCE envelope
- Period
- Initial Period, c.1800–1200 BCE (Sechin Culture)
- Culture
- Casma-Sechín (Andean Initial Period)
- Builders
- Casma-Sechín (Andean Formative polities)
- Purpose
- Ceremonial platform — huge U-shaped plaza centre for Casma valley
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1800 BCE core, 1600–1400 BCE envelope
Initial construction / foundation
c.800 CE
Major refurbishment / enlargement phase
c.1100 CE
Abandonment or conversion
1890–1930
Modern rediscovery and first scientific survey
On the ground
Structures & features
9.4620° S · 78.2420° W · 120 m · 2 mapped features
Principal platform and summit plaza (300 m axis)
platformSummit plaza on platform with plastered bench and stair descending to sunken court
9.4619° S · 78.2419° WCircular sunken court in front
plaza20 m diameter sunken court aligned on principal axis
9.4621° S · 78.2421° W