Pampa Grande

Pampa Grande is an archaeological site located in the Lambayeque Valley, in northern Peru, situated on the south shore of the Chancay River. It is located to the east of the city of Chiclayo.

This ancient city belonged both to Cupisnique and to Chavin cultures, and the earliest dates are around 600 BC. Later, during the Moche period (600-700 A.D.), the city was a major regional capital. Another famous Moche site, Sipan, is located only about 10 km west from Pampa Grande along the Chancay River valley.

Pampa Grande is located about 54 km inland from the Pacific Ocean.

During the time of the Moche occupation at Pampa Grande the Lambayeque Valley generally had a moderate climate year round. The average temperature measures about 22 degrees C and ranges from 10 degrees C to 35 degrees C depending on the seasons. In the winter months from June to September the El Nino current picks up and brings torrential rains and wind changes to coastal areas. However, these rains rarely hit the valley, as the annual precipitation levels are minimal. The rainy season lasts from February to April. The Chancay River is filled to capacity during the rainy season.

Considerable rains must have hit the site since the Moche period, because the architecture of the site, including the main pyramid, has been severely eroded.

During the Early Horizon Period (900-200 BC):

The Early Intermediate Period (200 BC-600 AD)

The Middle Horizon (600-1000 AD)

The Late Intermediate Period (1000-1450 AD)

The Late Horizon

There is little evidence left from pre-Moche II phases. If there were any significant evidence left behind, much of it would have been destroyed by the later Moche civilization phases. According to Shimada, the “post-Moche V developments in the region remain largely unknown.” This makes Moche phases II-V the most examined periods.

The site was excavated with a large team of students and professionals for the Royal Ontario Museum Project starting in 1973, and continuing through 1975. Dr. Kent C. Day, Izumi Shimada, Melody Shimada, Andrew Ignatieff, Martha Anders, Hans Knapp, John Haas, Manuel Arboleda, and Juan Cabanillas all participated in the excavation from 1973-1975.

Many of these participants helped in some way in the interpretation of the site as well. In addition, Terry D’Altroy, Christine Krueger, Ciro Hurtado, and Christopher B. Donnan were also involved in the interpretations at Pampa Grande.

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Wikipedia