Sechín Bajo Temple Mound (Two-Storey Temple)
Sechín Bajo · Moxeke-related · Two-Storey Pyramid · Casma Sechin
Late Preceramic to Initial Period (Casma-Sechin)·Casma-Sechin culture (Preceramic/Initial)·🇵🇪 Ancash, Casma Valley, Sechín Bajo, Peru
About
About Sechín Bajo Temple Mound (Two-Storey Temple)
Extraordinary Casma-Sechin Initial Period ceremonial centre Sechín Bajo (c. 3500–1800 BCE) with massive two-storey temple mound 39 × 39 m base, 18 m high adobe platform with later 180 × 120 m plaza — earliest adobe architecture with relief frieze of fanged being excavated below later platform showing building overbuilding over 1500 years. Carbon dates to 3500 BCE make it one of the oldest central Andean monumental buildings alongside Caral. Excavated by Peter Fuchs and Renate Patzschke (German Archaeological Institute) 2000–.
Why it mattersPushes Casma monumental onset to 3500 BCE rivaling Caral earliest; overbuilding sequence shows 1500-year architectural continuity.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 013500 BCE date accepted — contamination debate
- 02Fanged frieze deity — Chavín precursor or local
Theories
- 01Casma as independent cradle vs Supe diffusion
- 02Adobe technology origin on coast
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. 3500–1800 BCE (Late Preceramic to Initial Period, two-storey 1800 BCE)
- Period
- Late Preceramic to Initial Period (Casma-Sechin)
- Culture
- Casma-Sechin culture (Preceramic/Initial)
- Builders
- Sechín Bajo builders / Casma valley
- Purpose
- Two-storey pyramid with frieze overbuilding
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3500–1800 BCE (Late Preceramic to Initial Period, two-storey 1800 BCE)
Initial construction
c. 1385 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
9.4044° S · 78.2744° W · 100 m · 3 mapped features
Two-storey pyramid mound
pyramid39×39 m adobe two-storey 18 m
9.4045° S · 78.2745° WFanged frieze chamber
friezeSub-frieze 3500 BCE revealed
9.4044° S · 78.2743° WLarge plaza 180×120
plazaInitial Period plaza north
9.4040° S · 78.2747° W