Archaeological Places in Chiclayo

 

There are hundreds of archaeological places located in the valleys of Zaña, Lambayeque, La Leche and Motupe, where the pre-Inca cultures Lambayeque or Sicán, Mochica and Chimú, developed until the arrival of the Incas. In these valleys jewels of gold had been found and extracted, forming the fabulous collection appreciated in local museums. The highlights are the recent discoveries of "Señor de Sipán" (Lord of Sipan) in Huaca Rajada, "Señor de Sicán" in Batán Grande - Pómac, and the Valley of he Pyramids in Túcume. The discoveries in this area don't stop as Úcupe (Mochica Palace - Ventarron Temple - 2007-2011).

 

Huaca Rajada

Mochican archaeological complex, located 35 Km. (21.7 miles) southeast of Chiclayo (45 minutes by car). It is located at the borders of what once was the Pomalca plantation.

 

It is a monument made of adobe bricks that belongs to the period of the Regional Developments expressed by Moche culture. This archaeological site has this name because of the cut it suffered during an old pillage: Huaca Rajada. Later, it was modified by muchik: Sipán, as it is known now.

 

On 1987 Dr. Walter Alva began his investigations in this place, thanks to an initial hint given by some "huaqueros" (people from the region dedicated to profane the tombs), and discovered the tomb of Señor de Sipán (Lord of Sipan), tomb of priests and important Mochicans, of ritual character. He had also discovered, the tomb "El Sacerdote" (The Priest) and the tomb of the "Viejo Señor de Sipan" (Old Lord of Sipan).

 

The excavation and research in this location constituted the first important tomb scientifically explored in Peru, being able to obtain an incalculable historical value, for allow knowing new aspects of the Mochica Culture and the reconstruction of its past. The findings allowed experts to learn about the burial rituals of a Mochican sovereign who was buried with a warrior, a priest, two women, a boy, a dog, a llama, and a guardian with both feet amputated. The burial paraphernalia included numerous items of gold and silver jewelry inlaid with turquoise and lapis lazuli. The pre-Inca construction, or huaca, is formed by a burial platform and two truncated adobe pyramids that also belonged to the Mochican culture (first – fourth centuries A.D.)

 

At the moment, the replicas of the discovery of Señor de Sipan are located in the original place where they were founded; the original and restored pieces are in Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum.

 

 

Túcume

Located 1 Km / 0,6 miles from the town of Túcume (10 minutes by car) or 33 Km / 21 miles north of Chiclayo city (20 minutes by car). The capital of Sicán Culture. According to the legend, it was built in the year 700 A.D. and was founded by Calac, descendent of Naylamp.

 

The monumentality is given by great pyramids made of adobe tricks, platforms, stuff, finish with adobe bricks and quincha structures, plaster that some time was painted contrasting with the green of Pómac wood and the agricultural zones.

 

Túcume, or Valle de las Pirámides (Valley of the Pyramids), is made up of twenty-six pyramids, the most impressive ones being the Huaca del Pueblo, La Raya (Purgatorio), El Sol, and Las Estacas. Besides of archeology richness, other programs are offered such as testing of the local cuisine, shamanistic experiences, traditional medicine, and cultural exchange. Túcume stands out for its level of community involvement in the preservation of its natural and cultural heritage. Túcume is an archeological site of unique beauty. There, you will see more than twenty adobe pyramids, all approximately forty meters high, that belong to the Lambayeque or Sicán culture and which are nestled in an area full of wildlife and abundant vegetation

 

One of their pyramids measure 400 m. length, 100 m. width and 35 m. height, with a similar volume to the big pyramids of Egypt.


It was the center of an essentially marine culture, this is deduced for the friezes founded in their walls with marine decorations and shells that only come from Ecuador and Panama. Their investigators have found remains of plants, feathers of tropical birds and semiprecious stones that are nonexistent in the region, which demonstrates that they had a great commercial net and that they were big navigators.


The navigator and investigator Thor Heyerdahl carried out up to 1992 investigations in Túcume.

 

Innovative elements: A unique experience, which combines archaeological tourism and intensive interaction with local residents. Also worth highlighting is the active participation of the community in the development of tourism and in the preservation of its natural and cultural heritage. Stores with souvenirs and gifts handmade with ancestral pre-Hispanic technology by local and native artisans.

 

 

Batán Grande - Señor de Sicán (Lord of Sicán)

Batán Grande is an old farm dedicated to the cultivation of sugar cane, located 40 Km. northeast of Chiclayo. In this property are found rich and important archaeological locations of the Sican, Mochica and Chimú cultures.

 

Their old inhabitants built big towns, with extraordinary domain of agriculture and the technics of watering; today we can appreciate the watering channel "Taymi" that is used at the moment by farmers of the area, after many centuries of having been designed and built. In these locations big quantities of ceramic pieces and jewels have been extracted, of an unimaginable value, some of which conform the rich collection of the "Museo de Oro" (Gold Museum) in Lima, but many others have been sold in the black market.

 

Sicán archaeological complex is located in the Pómac Forest Historic Sanctuary, which shelters the most important natural carob tree forest in Peru, near to Ferreñafe city.

 

It is a group of twenty mud pyramids spread out over a 46 km2 area. It is made up of the huacas (mounds) Botija, Colorada, Horno de los Ingenieros, Huaca Loro, La Merced, El Santillo, Las Abejas, La Ventana, Rodillona, La Facho, Cholope, Arena, Corte, and others, which were all built in the middle of a stand of carob trees.

 

The archeological discoveries astonish us for the sheer amount of golden objects found there, and it is believed to be the development center of the Lambayeque or Sicán culture. During the research, a tomb was discovered containing valuable funeral paraphernalia such as crowns, belts, masks, bracelets, collars, weapons, armor, and other gold objects besides turquoise, spondylous shell, lapis lazuli and amber beads. You can find a large amount of this collection at the National Sicán Museum.

 

Since 1987 Dr. Izumi Shimada comes carrying out an investigation in remains belonging to the Sicán Culture, conformed by 30 monumental platforms made of "adobe" that "are the biggest of pre-Hispanic constructions in South America", according to Shimada.

 

In the excavations in "Huaca El Loro", he discovered the tomb of the "Señor de Sicán" (Lord of Sican), rich location in historical remains, in ceramic and jewels.

 

The investigations place Sicán town, as the biggest and more important religious center in the north area of Peru. Sicán Archaeological Project

 

Huaca Chotuna Archeological Complex

12 km / 8 miles west of Chiclayo (15 minutes by car). This group of truncated pyramids and buildings covers an area of approximately 20 hectares. The legend of Naylamp and the founding of the Lambayeque culture are identified with this place. The legend tells us that Naymlap himself ordered the construction of one of the temples here, identified as Chot, a place where he set an idol of green stone known as Ñam Pallec. Even today, the inhabitants fear and respect the center since they believe that Naymlap and his descendents still live in the depths of the earth.

 

Apurlec

Was a city from the Chimú Culture, located 57 Km (35.4 miles) north of Chiclayo, between Motupe and Jayanca cities. It has an extension of 27 sq. Km and is formed by fortresses, temples, pyramidal huacas, palaces, aqueducts, all built in "adobe" (bricks made of mud), and it has a bigger extension than Chan Chan's Citadel. At the moment it is deteriorated, and part of it is under the sand of the desert.



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