The Nazca Pyramids of Cahuachi, Peru

Most people are familiar with the Nazca Lines, those giant pictures carved into the landscape such that only someone flying in an airplane could see them for what they are.  Some even claim that those lines were put there by aliens, although the people who actually created them are nearby.  Well, at least in an archaeological form.  Located within the Andes and dating back to approximately 200 BCE to 500 BCE are the pyramids at Cahuachi, a grand site of the Nazca culture and an amazing place to visit if you, like me, happen to be an archaeology nut.

Cahuachi is said to be the largest ceremonial site in the world, covering a vast area of more than nine square miles.  And this is only what has been discovered so far.  It was believed that this site was a place of pilgrimage and that despite its size, very few people actually lived there. Though not proven, the connection with the Nazca lines seems very likely given the religious nature of both locations.

At the site are more than 40 mounds and approximately 5000 tombs.  The mounds are believed to have been crafted from the hills themselves.  The largest of these magnificent structures stands at 115 feet tall.  Though funding is limited, efforts are being taken to restore them and there are a number of pyramids that visitors can take a tour of. 

Unfortunately, much of the site has fallen victim to looters over the years. The region is being explored using advanced technologies to find the buried structures, but often tomb raiders find them before the proper archaeologists do.

If you’re in the region, perhaps checking out the Nazca Lines, make sure to stop by the home of those who created them.  It’s also a short trip to see the AntoniniMuseum where all the artifacts recovered from Cahuachi are stored along with many other pieces of Peru’s rich history and culture.

Pyramid photos courtesy of Ed88 via Wikicommons