Cahuachi Pyramids, Nazca, Ica, Peru

Cahuachi, in Peru, was a major ceremonial center of the Nazca culture, based from 1 CE to about 500 CE in the coastal area of the Central Andes. It overlooked some of the Nazca lines.

The site contains over 40 mounds topped with adobe structures. The huge architectural complex covers 1.5 sq. km (0.6 sq. miles) at 365 m (1197.5 ft) above sea level.

Cahuachi's architecture and its organization are characteristic of a ceremonial center, and is not urban.

At Cahuachi, there are mound and room constructions, a structure called the “Great Temple”, walls that form corridors and passageways, as well as major walls, circular depressions, cylindrical shafts on top of mounds, and kanchas. Kanchas are the bounded open spaces beneath and between mounds and can be defined as a walled field or patio area that does not necessarily insinuate any specific function.

Entrance to Cahuachi

Cahuachi Pyramids Plan
Plan Legend:

East Group
South Group
West Group
Great Square
Great Pyramid
Orange Pyramid
Stepped Temple
Wall with Chakana Pattern
Nazca River

East group (Plan No. 1)

Panorama of the east group (Plan No. 1)

Panorama of the southern group (Plan No. 2)

Panorama of the west group (Plan No. 3)

Panorama of the Great Pyramid (Plan No. 5)

Panorama from the north side (Plan No. 9)
The site itself can be found on the southern side of the Nazca River, one of ten major tributaries that form the Río Grande de Nazca drainage system.

The Nazca Valley Grande drainage area is very dry in the summer and extremely hot. Precipitation varies between none and 125 mm. Temperature averages 21.3 °C (70.3 °F).
Cahuachi lies over brown barren river terraces that are characterized by hills, above the bottom of the valley. Hills were modified in various ways to create civic/ceremonial centers.

Panorama of the Grand Square (Plan No. 4)

Orange Pyramid (Plan No. 6)

Panorama of the Orange Pyramid (Plan No. 6) and the west group (Plan No. 3).

Stepped Temple (Plan No. 7)

Panorama of the Stepped Temple (Plan No. 7)

Panorama of the Stepped Temple wall with Chakana pattern (Plan No. 8).

Chakana pattern
The Chakana (Andean cross, "stepped cross" or "step motif" or "stepped motif") is a stepped cross motif used by the Inca and pre-incan Andean societies.

The Andean cross (Chakana) is one of the oldest symbols in the Andes. The oldest complete Chakana was found at an approximately 4,000-year-old temple complex.
See more at Chakana - Wikipedia.