Huaca Mangomarca, Pre-Columbian archaeological complex in San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru
Huaca Mangomarca is an archaeological site built with stepped pyramids of adobe and compacted earth, linked by winding passages and ceremonial platforms. The structures showcase the building techniques and design used before Spanish arrival.
Mangomarca emerged around 300 AD under Lima culture influence, and Nievería-style ceramics from roughly 600–700 AD were found in its burials. From about 900 to 1470 it was the seat of the Lurigancho or Ruricancho curacazgo, subject to the Ichma lordship based at Pachacámac. Around 1470 the Inkas annexed the Ichma and Collique lordships to Tahuantinsuyu.
The name Mangomarca comes from the Quechua Manqu Marka, meaning 'town of the lord.' School groups from nearby schools use the perimeter area to stage the Inti Raymi festival, and the archaeologist Julio C. Tello produced the first architectural plans and photographs of the site over 70 years ago.
The site sits at 220 meters (722 feet) above sea level along Santuario Avenue and is accessed through guided tours organized by cultural authorities. Visitors should wear comfortable clothing and expect steep pathways and uneven ground.
The site lost about 70% of its original structure during decades of abandonment, when nearby residents used it as a rubbish dump. From the 2010s the Ministry of Culture fenced and signposted the area, and local schools now use the perimeter to stage the Inti Raymi festival.
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