Huaca Pucllana facts for kids
The front of Huaca Pucllana
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 Location in Peru
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| Alternative name | Huaca Juliana |
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| Location |  PeruMiraflores, Lima |
| Coordinates | 12°06′40″S 77°02′02″W / 12.11111°S 77.03389°W |
| History | |
| Cultures | Lima, Wari, Yschma |
| Site notes | |
| Website | Museo de Sitio Huaca Pucllana |
Huaca Pucllana, sometimes called Huaca Juliana, is an amazing ancient pyramid made of adobe bricks and clay. You can find it right in the middle of Lima, Peru, in a district called Miraflores. This huge structure is made up of seven platforms that step up like a giant staircase. It was a super important place for the Lima Culture, an ancient society that lived on the coast of Peru between the years 200 AD and 700 AD. The name "Huaca" comes from the Quechua word wak'a, which means a sacred place or shrine.
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What is Huaca Pucllana?
The Lima Culture built Huaca Pucllana to be a special center for ceremonies and managing their society. Important religious leaders, who also governed several valleys, used this pyramid to show their power. They wanted to control how people used water, both fresh and salty, which was very important for their lives.
Exploring the Ancient Site
The entire pyramid area is surrounded by a big central square, or plaza. A large wall divides the site into two main parts. One part had benches and deep pits. People likely placed offerings of fish and other sea creatures here to ask for good things from their gods.
The other part was for administrative tasks, like managing the community. This area has many smaller clay buildings and adobe huts. Some of their walls are still standing today! This whole enclosure is over 500 meters long, 100 meters wide, and 22 meters tall.
Discoveries from Other Cultures
Later on, archaeologists found other ancient remains at Huaca Pucllana. These belonged to the Wari Culture, which existed from 500 AD to 1000 AD. The Wari Culture had a big influence on the Lima Culture as it came to an end.
One very special discovery was the tomb of the "Señor de los Unkus" (The Lord of the Unkus). This was the first tomb found at the site that was completely untouched. Inside, there were three burial cloths. These cloths held the remains of three adults, two of whom had masks. There were also the remains of a child who had been sacrificed.
Images for kids
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Recreation ritual offering vessel, Lima culture
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Huaca Pucllana is located in urban Lima
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Ceremonial pit
See also
In Spanish: Huaca Pucllana para niños
- Miraflores District, Lima
