Túcume Pyramids
Túcume · Valley of the Pyramids · Túcume Pampas · El Purgatorio
Late Intermediate (Lambayeque 1000–1350 → Chimú 1350–1470 → Inca 1470–1532)·Lambayeque (Sicán) → Chimú → Inca·🇵🇪 Lambayeque, District of Túcume, Peru
About
About Túcume Pyramids
Valley of 26 adobe trunk-pyramids (1000–1532) on plain around eroded Cerro La Raya hill: Lambayeque/Sicán then Chimú then Inca 26 pyramids 12–25 m high (Huaca Larga 700 m long largest adobe pyramid in South America), each rebuilt village-level pyramid. Thor Heyerdahl 1988–94 excavations documented continuity. Legendary Naylamp mythic founding city. Inca temple of stone atop Huaca Larga.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Naylamp legend vs archaeology
Theories
- 01Each corporate group built own huaca as kin-waka, generating valley; Inca appropriation via stone temple cap evidences imperial superstructure
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Huaca Larga 1000 CE, pyramids 1000–1470 successive
- Period
- Late Intermediate (Lambayeque 1000–1350 → Chimú 1350–1470 → Inca 1470–1532)
- Culture
- Lambayeque (Sicán) → Chimú → Inca
- Purpose
- Dynastic ritual city and administrative node controlling Lambayeque irrigation
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
Huaca Larga 1000 CE, pyramids 1000–1470 successive
Initial construction
c. 1627 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
6.5158° S · 79.8442° W · 43 m · 3 mapped features
Huaca Larga (Long Huaca) 700m long, 30m high
pyramidLongest adobe pyramid in South America, Inca stone temple capping north end
6.5160° S · 79.8450° WHuaca 1 (excavated with burials)
pyramidThor Heyerdahl trench pyramid with Lambayeque tombs
6.5150° S · 79.8430° WCerro La Raya sacred hill central
hillEroded hill waka at center of 26-pyramid ring
6.5170° S · 79.8435° W
Gallery