Huaca del Sol
Museum Huacas of Moche
Huaca del Sol as seen from the southeast, with the Moche River delta beyond and city ruins in the foreground.
The Huaca del Sol is an adobe brick temple built by the Moche civilization (100 CE to 800 CE) on the northern coast of what is now Peru. The temple is one of several ruins found near the volcanic peak of Cerro Blanco, in the coastal desert near Trujillo at the Moche Valley. The other major ruin at the site is the nearby Huaca de la Luna, a better-preserved but smaller temple.
By 450 CE, eight different stages of construction had been completed on the Huaca del Sol. The technique was additive; new layers of brick were laid directly on top of the old, hence large quantities of bricks were required for the construction. Archeologists have estimated that the Huaca del Sol was composed of over 130 million adobe bricks and was the largest pre-Columbian adobe structure built in the Americas.[1] The number of different makers' marks on the bricks suggests that over a hundred different communities contributed bricks to the construction of the Huacas.
The Huaca del Sol was composed of four main levels. The structure was expanded and rebuilt by different rulers over the course of time. It is believed to have originally been about 50 meters in height and 340m. by 160 m. at the base. Located at the center of the Moche capital city, the temple appears to have been used for ritual, ceremonial activities and as a royal residence and burial chambers. Archaeological evidence attests to these functions.
During the Spanish occupation of Peru in the early 17th century, colonists redirected the waters of the Moche River to run past the base of the Huaca del Sol in order to facilitate the looting of gold artifacts from the temple. The operation of the hydraulic mine greatly damaged the Huaca del Sol. In total, approximately two-thirds of the structure has been lost to erosion and such looting. The remaining structure stands at a height of 41 meters (135 feet).
Looting and erosion due to El Niño continue to be major concerns to this day.
See also
|
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Huacas. |
External links
Notes
- ↑ Cameron, Ian (1990). Kingdom of the Sun God: A History of the Andes and Their People. New York: Facts on File. p. 43. ISBN 0-8160-2581-9.
References
- Art of the Andes, from Chavin to Inca. Rebecca Stone-Miller, Thames and Hudson, 1995.
- The Incas and Their Ancestors: the archaeology of Peru. Michael E. Moseley, Thames and Hudson, 1992.
|
---|
|
- Acaray
- Amaru Marka Wasi
- Arhuaturo
- Asana
- Asiru Phat'jata
- Aspero
- Awila Qhincha Mach'ay
- Awkin Punta
- Awkillu Waqra
- Awkimarka (Apurímac)
- Awkimarka (Huánuco)
- Awqa Punta
- Aya Muqu
- Ayamach'ay
- Ayawayq'u
- Azángaro
- Baths of Boza
- Bandurria
- Buena Vista
- Cahuachi
- Cajamarquilla
- Cao Viejo
- Carajía
- Caral
- Caves of Sumbay
- Cerro Baúl
- Cerro Pátapo
- Cerro Trinidad
- Chakamarka
- Chan Chan
- Chankillo
- Chauchilla Cemetery
- Chavín de Huantar
- Chawaytiri
- Chichakuri
- Chipaw Marka
- Chuqik'iraw
- Chuqik'iraw Pukyu
- Chuqi Pukyu
- Churajón
- Chuya
- Ch'iqullu
- Cota Coca
- Cumbe Mayo
- El Brujo
- El Cañoncillo
- El Ingenio
- El Paraíso
- Garagay
- Gran Pajáten
- Gran Vilaya
- Guitarrero Cave
- Hatun Rumiyuq
- Hatun Mach'ay
- Hatun Misapata
- Hatun Uchku
- Hatun Usnu
- Hatunmarka
- Hunqupampa
- Inka Mach'ay
- Inka Raqay, Apurímac
- Inka Raqay, Ayacucho
- Inka Tampu, Cajamarca
- Inka Tampu, Huayopata
- Inka Tampu, Vilcabamba
- Inka Tunuwiri
- Inka Uyu
- Inka Wasi, Ayacucho
- Inka Wasi, Huancavelica
- Inka Wasi, Lima
- Inkapintay
- Inkill Tampu
- Inti Punku
- Inti Watana, Ayacucho
- Inti Watana, Calca
- Inti Watana, Urubamba
- Intikancha
- Intini Uyu Pata
- Intipa Ñawin
- Intiyuq K'uchu
- Iskuqucha
- Isuq
- Jinkiori
- Jisk'a Iru Muqu
- Kanichi
- Killa Mach'ay
- Killa Rumi
- Killarumiyuq
- Kiswar
- Kotosh
- Kuelap
- Kukuli
- Kuntur Wasi
- Kunturmarka, Ayacucho
- Kunturmarka, Pasco
- Kuntur Qaqa
- Kuntuyuq
- Kusichaka valley
- Kutimpu
- Khichuqaqa
- Khuchi Mach'ay
- K'allapayuq Urqu
- K'anamarka
- K'ipakhara
- Laguna de las Momias
- Lawriqucha
- Layzón
- Llamachayuq
- Llamachayuq Qaqa
- Llamayuq
- Llamuqa
- Llaqta Qulluy, Acoria
- Llaqta Qulluy, Conayca
- Llaqta Qulluy, Tayacaja
- Llaqta Qulluy, Vilca
- Llaqtan
- Llaqtapata
- Machu Pikchu
- Machu Pirqa
- Machu Pitumarka
- Machu Q'inti
- Machu Qullqa
- Mameria
- Maray Qalla
- Marayniyuq
- Markahirka
- Markansaya
- Markapukyu
- Markawamachuku
- Marpa
- Mawk'allaqta, Castilla
- Mawk'allaqta, Espinar
- Mawk'allaqta, La Unión
- Mawk'allaqta, Melgar
- Mawk'allaqta, Paruro
- Mawk'allaqta, Sandia
- Mawk'ataray
- Mayqu Amaya
- Mazur
- Mikulla
- Millka
- Miraflores
- Mirq'imarka
- Miyu Pampa
- Mulinuyuq
- Mullu Q'awa
- Mulluq'u
- Muray
- Muyu Muyu
- Muyu Urqu
- Muyuq Marka
- Nazca Lines
- Nina Kiru
- Ninamarka
- Ñawpallaqta, Huanca Sancos
- Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo
- Ñawpallaqta, Lucanas
- Ñust'a Hisp'ana
- Pacatnamu
- Pachakamaq
- Pachatusan
- Paiján
- Pañamarka
- Paracas Candelabra
- Paraxra
- Patallaqta
- Phiruru
- Pikillaqta
- Pikimach'ay
- Pilluchu
- Pinkuylluna
- Pirqa Pirqa, La Libertad
- Pirqa Pirqa, Lima
- Pirwalla
- Pirwayuq
- P'isaq
- Puka Pukara
- Puka Tampu
- Puka Urqu
- Pukara, Coporaque
- Pukara, Fajardo
- Pukara, Puno
- Pukara, Vilcas Huamán
- Pukarani
- Pumamarka, San Sebastián
- Pumamarka, Urubamba
- Pumaq Hirka
- Pumawasi
- Punkuri
- Puqin Kancha
- Puruchuco
- Purum Llaqta, Cheto
- Purum Llaqta, Soloco
- Pusharo
- Pusuquy Pata
- Phuyupatamarka
- Qaqapatan
- Qillqatani
- Quchapata
- Qillqa
- Qillqay Mach'ay
- Quchapampa
- Quiaca
- Qullqanpata
- Qullqapampa
- Qulu Qulu
- Qunchamarka
- Qunchupata
- Quri Winchus
- Qurikancha
- Qurimarka, Apurímac
- Qurimarka, Cusco
- Quriwayrachina, Anta
- Quriwayrachina, Ayacucho
- Quriwayrachina, La Convención
- Quyllur
- Q'arachupa
- Qasa Pata
- Qhapaq Kancha
- Q'illaywasin
- Q'inqu
- Q'inq'u
- Raimondi Stele
- Raqch'i
- Revash
- Rumiqullqa
- Rumiwasi
- Runayuq
- Runkuraqay
- Saksaywaman
- Sara Sara
- Sayaqmarka
- Sayhuite
- Sechin
- Sillustani
- Sipán
- Suntur
- Susupillu
- Tambo Totem
- Tampu Mach'ay, Cusco
- Tampu Mach'ay, Huancavelica
- Tampukancha
- Tanqa Tanqa
- Tantarica
- Taqrachullu
- Tarawasi
- Tarmatampu
- Templo del Zorro
- The Toads of Wiraqucha
- Tikra
- Tinyaq
- Tipón
- Titiqaqa
- Toquepala Caves
- Toro Muerto
- Trinchera
- Túcume
- Tunanmarka
- Tunay Q'asa
- Tupu Inka
- T'akaq
- T'uqu T'uquyuq
- Uchkus Inkañan
- Ullantaytampu
- Urpish
- Uskallaqta
- Usnu, Ayacucho
- Usnu, Huánuco
- Usnu Muqu
- Usqunta
- Uyu Uyu
- Venado cautivo
- Ventanillas de Otuzco
- Ventarron
- Vitcos
- Wak'a del Dragón
- Wak'a Wallamarka
- Wak'a de la Luna
- Wak'a del Sol
- Wak'a of San Marcos
- Wak'a of Santa Ana
- Wak'a Prieta
- Wak'a Pukllana
- Wallpayunka
- Waman Pirqa
- Wamanilla
- Wamanmarka, Chumbivilcas
- Wamanmarka, La Convención
- Wamanmarka, Lima
- Wamp'uy
- Wanakawri, Cusco
- Wanakawri, Huánuco
- Wanqaran
- Wanuku Pampa
- Waqlamarka
- Waqramarka
- Waqra Pukara
- Waqutu
- Warahirka
- Waraqayuq
- Waraqu Urqu
- Warawtampu
- Wari ruins
- Wari Willka
- Waruq
- Wat'a, Cusco
- Wat'a, Huánuco
- Wayna Pikchu
- Wayna Q'inti
- Wayna Tawqaray
- Wayra Punku
- Wichama
- Wichqana
- Wich'un
- Wila Wilani
- Willka
- Willkapampa
- Willkaraqay
- Willkawaman
- Willkawayin
- Wiñaw
- Wiñay Wayna
- Wiraqucha Pirqa
- Wiraquchapampa
- Yanaca
- Yanaqi - Qillqamarka
- Yaynu
- Yuraq Mach'ay
|