Cajamarquilla, Archaeological site in Jicamarca Valley, Peru.
Cajamarquilla is an archaeological site in Jicamarca Valley featuring pyramid temples, wide streets, ceremonial squares, and underground grain storage facilities. The complex spreads across about 167 hectares and reveals how an early urban community was organized.
The settlement emerged in an early period and reached its peak during the Lima Culture in the first millennium. It remained continuously inhabited for centuries, showing the ongoing development of this region.
The site shows how people lived here and honored their dead through burial grounds that reflect southern Peruvian funeral customs. Visitors can still see today how these practices shaped the settlement.
The site lies about 25 kilometers inland from Lima, positioned north of the Rimac River, and is relatively easy to reach. Visitors should bring sturdy footwear since the terrain is uneven and the sun can be strong during the day.
In 2021, researchers found an 800-year-old mummy with hands covering its face, bound in rope following pre-Inca burial practices. The discovery shows that such burial customs persisted here long after their original time.
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