temple of the sun

LEFT Pachacamac was one of the glories of the Inca world, but it also had a history that stretched back long before the Inca conquest. A long running project has been examining pilgrimage to the site before and during the Inca period. Here, excavations are underway on a remarkable building, referred to as B15 by the team, with the Inca Temple of the Sun in the background. BELOW An aerial view of Pachacamac with a pyramid with ramp in the foreground, the Pilgrims' Plaza and its columns in the middle, and the Temple of the Sun dominating the site to the south.

Pachacamac: pilgrimages and power in ancient Peru

Excavations at Pachacamac in Peru have revealed evidence for large-scale pilgrimages at the time of the Incas. Ongoing research is exploring the pilgrims’ motivations and the ceremonies performed by them. Project director Peter Eeckhout describes the discoveries made by his team and how they illuminate our understanding of the biggest pre-Columbian empire.