On Friday, September 9, we visited a site called Huaca Pucllana. It was only a few blocks from the house we were staying at. This adobe pyramid served as an important ceremonial and administrative center for the advancement of the Lima Culture, a society which developed in the Peruvian Central Coast between the years of 200 AD and 700 AD.
The excavation of this site is still underway and expected to take another 50 years at least. Our guide stated that prior to 1960, it was simply a large dirt hill and was even the site for motocross racing events until the ruins were discovered below the soil. Analysis shows that there are still many tombs below the walking paths that have not yet been uncovered.
The site was made with adobe bricks that were formed by hand. Each brick still shows ridges made from the fingers of the brick maker, with hand prints clearly visible on many bricks. The site took several hundred years to reach its maximum size.
Today we will be leaving Lima and flying to Cusco, where the 11,200 foot altitude will likely bring some altitude sickness for a day or two. From Cusco we’ll head to Machu Picchu next week.
