Huaca La Florida Baja Secondary
Huaca La Florida Baja II · Rímac Valley Huaca Florida
Initial Period Manchay 1700–900 BCE, pre-Chavín U-shaped temple·Manchay (Rímac-Lurín U-shaped temple tradition)·🇵🇪 Lima, Rímac District, Peru
About
About Huaca La Florida Baja Secondary
Southern secondary platform of Huaca La Florida (1700 BCE), largest adobe U-shaped temple in Rímac valley: main pyramid 170×100 m 17 m high with central stair to atrium; secondary south arm 60 m long with sunken court 40 m. Manchay culture related to Garagay and Cardal; built of conical adobes and stone fill, later encased by late Lima adobitos. Now urban island in Rímac district.
Why it mattersExemplifies Manchay U-shaped temple tradition in Lima’s Rímac valley, predecessor to Chavín and Lima cultures in urban sprawl.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Manchay U-shape oriented east toward Andes peaks rather than river
- 02How conical adobes resisted Lima seismicity for 3000 years
Theories
- 01Rímac valley sun cult with atrium as solar theatre
- 02Manchay elite legitimizing river floodplain control
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.2000–800 BCE (Initial Period Manchay pre-Chavín)
- Period
- Initial Period Manchay 1700–900 BCE, pre-Chavín U-shaped temple
- Culture
- Manchay (Rímac-Lurín U-shaped temple tradition)
- Builders
- Manchay
- Purpose
- Secondary U-shaped platform south of Huaca La Florida principal 170 m pyramid enclosing 80×50 m sunken atrium, Rímac valley temple
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2000–800 BCE (Initial Period Manchay pre-Chavín)
Initial construction
900 BCE, pre-Chavín U-shaped temple
Major occupation / refurbishment
On the ground
Structures & features
12.0140° S · 77.0160° W · 260 m · 2 mapped features
La Florida secondary south arm
platform mound60 m U-shaped south platform with 40 m sunken court
12.0150° S · 77.0150° WLa Florida principal atrium
atrium80×50 m plastered atrium before 17 m main pyramid
12.0130° S · 77.0170° W
Gallery