Huaca Pucllana Pyramid was an administrative and ceremonial center in the pre-Inca Lima culture in Peru. The construction of this clay pyramid took place around 500 AD, and it has seven staggered layers. While building the Huaca Pucllana Pyramid, the Lima people used an intriguing method called the “library technique.” So, the spaces between the vertically laid adobe bricks enabled the structure to absorb the tremors of earthquakes. Accordingly, the pyramid managed to survive until today in spite of the frequent seismic activity in Lima.
The pyramid is surrounded by a plaza, and a large wall divides it into two separate sections. The section with the benches and deep pits was where the ancient people would perform their ceremonies as well as make sacrifices. The other one was the administrative section where there used to be various small clay and adobe huts. Apart from these two functions, the pyramid was also a burial place for the noble people. For instance, inside the first tomb discovered in 2008, there were the remains of two adults with masks and a sacrificed child.
Excavations in the area started in 1981, and then the pyramid became a cultural heritage site in 1984. Today, the archaeological complex includes an area for workshops, a souvenir shop, and a restaurant. There is also a museum exhibiting ceramics, textiles, tools, artifacts, and other remains excavated on the site.
