Ancient Moche sacrificial altar discovered atop mountain peak

[Originally published April 6, 2012] One of the oldest human sacrifice altars in Peru, believed to be from the Moche culture, has been discovered at the summit of Cerro Campana (Mount Hood) near the northern coast city of Trujillo, archaeologist Regulo Franco Jordan told state news agency Andina earlier this week.

The structure is about five feet high, consisting of three steps, each 50 centimeters in length and a rock platform on top, similar to the Intihuatana of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, Franco said.

This altar is at the top of the 1,000-meter-high mountain’s central peak.

“We found the stage where men were slaughtered, beheaded and then thrown into the abyss, as part of the rituals practiced more than 1,000 years ago,” said Franco.

He added that the altar corresponds to representation found in ancient Moche ceramics, depicting a large mountain with many peaks, and sacrificial victims falling.

The Cerro Campana is located 16 kilometers from the center of Trujillo, capital of the northern department of La Libertad.

If you’re interested in a tour of the ancient Moche kingdoms of northern Peru, check out our Blood, Sand & Sacrifice program, a four-day, in-depth exploration of this amazing pre-Inca culture.

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