Tucume Huaca Larga Pyramid — Lambayeque
Huaca Larga · Tucume Huaca Larga
Late Intermediate, c.1100-1530 CE (Lambayeque / Sicán–Chimú)·Andean (Lambayeque / Sicán)·🇵🇪 Lambayeque, Peru
About
About Tucume Huaca Larga Pyramid — Lambayeque
Túcume (ancient Tucume, El Purgatorio) Lambayeque: 26-pyramid field dominated by Huaca Larga (700 m long, 280 m wide, 30 m high) — one of largest adobe pyramids globally, built by Lambayeque/Sicán (1100-1350) later Chimú. Excavated by Thor Heyerdahl (1988-93) and Alfredo Narváez (Túcume project 1989–): adobe platforms with Chimú audiencia courts. Legend of mythical founder Naymlap (Naylamp). Covered by desert fog forest. Part of 220 ha archaeological park. Demonstrates Late Intermediate adobe gigantism as Sicán–Chimú rivalry.
Why it mattersKey Andean (Lambayeque / Sicán) pyramid with stratified sequence and regional importance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Huaca Larga is single pyramid (700 m) or fused double pyramid
- 02Naymlap legend historic vs mythic — Sican founder at Túcume
Theories
- 01Túcume as Lambayeque capital after Sicán at Batán Grande collapsed (c.1100) due to El Niño
- 02Huaca Larga gigantism as status competition among 26 pyramids before Inca conquest
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.1100-1350 CE (Late Intermediate, Lambayeque/Sicán, Chimú influence)
- Period
- Late Intermediate, c.1100-1530 CE (Lambayeque / Sicán–Chimú)
- Culture
- Andean (Lambayeque / Sicán)
- Builders
- Andean (Lambayeque
- Purpose
- Colossal adobe pyramid massif at Túcume (Huaca Larga 700×280×30 m) — largest adobe pyramid in Lambayeque valley within 26-pyramid field
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1100 CE (Lambayeque)
Huaca Larga begun after Batán Grande collapse
c.1350 CE (Chimú)
Chimú conquest — audience courts added
c.1470 CE
Inca conquest of Lambayeque
1988
Heyerdahl-Narváez excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
6.5120° S · 79.8430° W · 35 m · 2 mapped features
Huaca Larga colossal platform (700×280 m)
platformMassive adobe platform 700 m long 30 m high, stepped with plazas and ramps, Lambayeque adobe massif
6.5119° S · 79.8430° WHuaca 1 and El Purgatorio temple-mountain backdrop
templeHuaca 1 temple mound and Cerro Purgatorio mountain (sacred peak) framing valley
6.5121° S · 79.8431° W
Gallery