Huaca El Naranjal

Huaca El Naranjal is an archaeological site in Los Olivos featuring a pyramidal adobe structure and the remains of a pottery production complex. The site contains kilns, work areas, and storage spaces that reveal how ceramic manufacturing was organized on this location.

The site originated during the Ychsma period and continued functioning through the Inca times, showing that ceramic production remained important across several centuries. This continuous occupation suggests that the craft tradition persisted despite changing political control in the region.

This location functioned as a major production center where craftspeople made pottery on a large scale for regional use. The discovery of kilns and work tools reveals that specialized artisans operated here, passing their techniques down through generations.

The site sits within a residential urban area and is difficult to access since it lies behind buildings and remains closed to the public. Visitors should know that conservation work is ongoing and access may be restricted or unavailable.

The site displays multiple overlapping occupation layers that document how production methods and techniques changed over time. This layering is unusual because it shows long periods when the location was abandoned followed by later reoccupation.