The Cahuachi archaeological site and its pyramids
Cahuachi: a ceremonial centre near Nazca
Almost everyone knows about the Nazca Lines! But who knows about the Cahuachi archaeological site? This is a ceremonial centre of the Nazca civilization located in the Ica department, 18 km west of the city of Nazca and 42 km from the Pacific Ocean. Archaeologists deduced it was a ceremonial complex because of the pyramids, but also because of the small population that lived there despite the vast array of monuments.
Cahuachi and its pyramids: a legacy of the Nazca civilization
To date, the Cahuachi centre is the largest ever discovered from the Nazca civilization. It is largely covered by sand, but can be clearly mapped from an aerial view, and stretches over more than 24 kilometres. Many buildings, platforms and terraces are visible, but what most characterizes the archaeological site are the 4 enormous structures in the centre, including a great temple and two pyramids. Forty stepped mounds can be counted, brought to light through the work of archaeological teams led by Italian archaeologist Giuseppe Orefici over several decades. Despite this, Giuseppe Orefici enthusiastically admits that less than 5% of the ruins have been excavated and that we are only at the dawn of great discoveries about the Nazca civilization.
It is highly likely that the Cahuachi site interacted with the Cerro Blanco dune and especially with the Nazca Lines. However, few traces currently allow us to support this reasoning, despite the fact that the very dry climate has enabled the preservation of materials such as textiles, for example, in a state of remarkable conservation!
Archaeologists have estimated the use of this site from 50 BC to 400–450 AD, but its beginnings date back to around 250 BC.
Practical information: visiting the Cahuachi site
The Cahuachi archaeological site is located in the Ica region and in the Nazca province. The GPS coordinates are: 14° 49′ 7″ South and 75° 7′ 0″ West.
Travel agencies in Nazca or surrounding towns often offer tours dedicated to this archaeological site or as part of longer itineraries. The time needed to visit the Cahuachi ruins is three hours and the fee ranges from 30 to 50 dollars, depending on the tour operator chosen.
