Pativilca-Fortaleza Geoglyphs (Paramonga Pampa)
Pativilca Valley Desert Lines · Fortaleza Pampa Figures
Initial Period to Late Intermediate (Casma-Sechín to Chimú)·Casma-Sechín / Paramonga / Chimú·🇵🇪 Lima Region, Barranca Province, Pativilca District, Peru
About
About Pativilca-Fortaleza Geoglyphs (Paramonga Pampa)
Inter-valley pampa (380 m) between Río Pativilca and Río Fortaleza, 4 km east of Paramonga fortress, with 26 anthropogenic lines and trapezoids on pale alluvial terrace. Figures include 120-m trapezoid, 75-m arrow and 35-m spiral cleared to pale silt beneath brown pavement. Associated with Initial Period to Early Horizon Casma-Sechín sphere and later Paramonga (Chimú-Chancay, 1100-1470 CE). Terraces and canals of Fortaleza bisect field; Chimú road embankment overlays one line, providing terminus ante quem. Preservation moderate; threatened by Paramonga sugar cane extension and Barranca urban growth.
Why it mattersNorthernmost Casma-Sechín sphere geoglyphs, linking coastal fortress to pampa.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chimú road stratigraphy
Theories
- 01Fortress signalling avenue
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.1200 BCE - 1300 CE (multi-phase)
- Period
- Initial Period to Late Intermediate (Casma-Sechín to Chimú)
- Culture
- Casma-Sechín / Paramonga / Chimú
- Builders
- North-central coast pampa line builders
- Purpose
- Valley-boundary and road-related geoglyph marking
- Abandoned
- c.1470 CE (Inca conquest)
- Rediscovered
- 2017 Paramonga-Pativilca walkover
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1200 BCE
Earliest Initial Period spiral
1320
Chimú road overlays line
On the ground
Structures & features
10.7000° S · 77.7800° W · 380 m · 2 mapped features
Pativilca Trapezoid
geoglyph120-m trapezoid on Fortaleza terrace
10.6980° S · 77.7820° WParamonga Road-Chimú Stratified Line
earthwork75-m line overlain by Chimú road embankment
10.7020° S · 77.7780° W