Huaca de la Luna, Step pyramid archaeological site in La Libertad, Peru.
Huaca de la Luna is a stepped pyramid sanctuary made of adobe in La Libertad, Peru, rising 21 meters high with a square base of 87 meters. The terraces are decorated with multicolored murals and elaborate reliefs still visible today in several excavated areas.
Between 100 and 800 CE, the Moche civilization constructed this ceremonial center using thousands of adobe bricks layered in successive building phases. The structure was expanded multiple times over the centuries, with each new layer built over the previous one to enhance the religious importance of the site.
The temple walls display detailed murals in five mineral-based colors depicting the Moche deity Ai Apaec and scenes of ritual ceremonies. Visitors can still observe these colorful reliefs today in several excavated sections, where they illustrate the religious practice of pre-Hispanic culture.
The archaeological site maintains regular visiting hours with guided tours available in multiple languages and an adjacent museum housing Moche artifacts. Visitors should bring sun protection and comfortable shoes, as the site includes uneven surfaces and stairs.
Recent excavations uncovered a ceremonial plaza with 21 snake representations and evidence of elite tombs containing copper objects and ceramic vessels. The murals were repainted many times over generations, with up to seven layers of paint discovered, representing different periods of Moche culture.
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