Pyramids of Túcume

The pyramids of Túcume site is one of the main monumental centers in the Lambayeque region and the whole of Peru. The archaeological complex extends over 220 hectares, and is surrounded by fertile farming land and the country houses of Raya and San Antonio. There are several other “huacas” or sites of spiritual significance in the surrounding area: Huaca Larga, Las Estacas, La Raya, Del Pueblo, Las Balsas, Huaca I, Los Gavilanes y Las Grandes, etc. Construction of the pyramids was completed around 700 AD. There are 26 pyramids of different sizes, all built around an imposing central mountain — one of the largest pyramid cities ever built. Carbon dating shows that the first pyramid at Tucume was built around 1100 AD, and for 400 years they built more pyramids, and added extensions to the ones they already had. An ancient model found at one of the sites shows the pyramids were built according to a strict master plan. Archaeologists estimate that it would have taken some 2,000 workers a year just to make the bricks for just one pyramid. It would have taken thousands more to build the pyramid itself, and hundreds of others to grow and cook food for the laborers. There were 25 other pyramids at Tucume, and another 200 more across the valley. So building pyramids was an all-consuming obsession for the people of the Lambayeque valley.