Huacas of the Sun and Moon

Huaca of the Sun and Moon are two imposing buildings that witness what once represented the great urban center of the Moche culture called Cerro Blanco that flourished between the years 100 and 800 AD. These two pre-Incan pyramids were built entirely in adobe, a material made of mud (clay and sand), and contain mysteries and legends to discover.

Huaca of the Sun

This is one of the largest adobe structures in pre-Hispanic America. It was partially destroyed and looted by the Spanish conquerors in the 17th century, leaving today only a third of its original structure. It is considered one of the largest adobe structures in Latin America and an impressive testament to the ingenuity and skill of the ancient Moche.

The Huaca is a stepped adobe pyramid that reached a height of approximately 43 meters at its peak. Although much of the structure has been eroded by the passage of time, it is still possible to appreciate its size and magnificence.

Decorative murals

The huaca was adorned with colorful and detailed murals, although most of them have deteriorated over time. The murals depicted scenes of daily life, mythical and ceremonial figures, as well as symbols associated with Moche power and religion.

Ceremonial complex

The Huaca del Sol had an important ceremonial function in Moche society. It is believed to have been the center of religious and political activities, and possibly the place of residence of the ruling elite.

Archaeological discoveries

During the excavations carried out at the Huaca del Sol, numerous valuable objects have been discovered, such as ceramics, textiles, jewelry and funerary offerings. These findings have provided valuable information about the Moche culture and their religious and social practices.

Limited access

Unlike the Huaca de la Luna, which is open to the public and can be visited, the Huaca del Sol has restricted access due to its fragility and ongoing conservation work. However, guided tours can be taken to learn more about its history and archaeological significance.

Huaca of the Moon

It is located 500 m from the Huaca of the Sun, also built later by the Mochica culture. Between the two was the city.

The Huaca of the Moonn, although smaller, has yielded the most archaeological information. And it is believed that it mainly served a ceremonial and religious function, although it also contains burials. It is made up of two sacred temples in the shape of a truncated pyramid, called the Old Temple and the New Temple. They were built entirely of earth, and only privileged people entered, either to worship the gods or to offer their lives to them.

Old temple

The ceremonial courtyard

The walls that delimit the ceremonial courtyard of the Old Temple present polychrome reliefs, in whose rhomboidal fields the face of the God of the Mountains is represented, with his exorbitant eyes and feline teeth, in an evident shamanic trance. In this ceremonial courtyard there is an enclosure that fulfilled a special function. Its exterior walls were finely finished with polychrome reliefs of complex designs, with marine themes in which the heads of snakes or fish, and birds of prey, can be identified. This reveals the sacred nature of the activities that were carried out in this environment during the ceremonial events.

North front

The impressive north façade of the Old Temple is unique in the world. At its 95 meters base and 24 meters high, it preserves its seven steps painted with bright colors, where the Mochica artists represented divinities, mythical men, priests, dancers and triumphant warriors leading naked prisoners who must offer their lives and blood to the God of the Mountains.

New temple

The New Temple no longer has the monumentality of its old predecessor. The God of the Mountains can no longer be seen on its walls; instead, iconographic designs of weavers and animated objects can be seen, some fighting against men. The loss of political power led to changes in the ways of life of this society, and the search for new forms of sociopolitical organization, with disputes and conflicts between smaller groups of the same Moche elite. The era of the demigod warrior-priests had come to an end, and the city’s inhabitants began to take control of political and economic power.

Santiago Uceda Castillo Museum

It is a space for culture with exhibition halls, a communal area, a research center and an amphitheater. That is, it is not only a site museum for the exhibition of objects found in archaeological excavations, but also a community research and development center.

The White Hill

The large urban center of the Moche culture called Cerro Blanco is related to the importance that the Moche culture gave to the mountains, associated with rain and agricultural fertility. In this way, the silhouette of Cerro Blanco is integrated into the buildings of the Old Temple of Huaca de la Luna and valued as a sacred rock. Archaeological investigations have revealed that at the foot of this rock the ceremonial rituals associated with human sacrifices culminated.