Huaca Pucllana

Since I got here, I've been thinking that Peru reminds me of India.  I think one of the reasons it does is because of the juxtaposition of modernity and traditional culture.  A great example of this here in Lima is the Huaca Pucllana-an archaeological dig right in downtown Miraflores.

It was first used as a place of worship and sacrifice by the Lima culture-a matriarchal group that worshiped the sea and inhabited the area from 200-700 A.D.

(They used this bookshelf technique to build the walls of the temple to withstand earthquakes.)


The Lima were conquered by the Wari empire, who ruled from 700-900 A.D.  The Wari used the temple as a burial ground for their governors.  The on-site archaeologists are working to excavate several tombs that were recently discovered.

Like the Egyptian pharoahs, they were buried with the supplies they would need in the next world...and a child sacrifice (the white cloth bundle near the body).


The Wari were succeeded by the Ychsma culture (900-1533 A.D.), who again used the temple of a place of worship.

As far as the archaeologists can tell, the Incas did not use this site after conquering the Ychsma.