Peru’s Massive Geoglyphs
The Nazca lines are one of the greatest enigmas of ancient history, how could Miro and I pass up the chance of visiting? They are massive geoglyphs, formed in the terrain of Nazca and the pampas of Jumana in the south of Peru. Illustrations of animals, plants, and other creatures, as well as deliberate patterns of lines which resemble tracks, are marked in the earth. They are so large that their complete designs are only visible from an aerial view. How were these geoglyphs made? More importantly, why …

Ancient Aliens?
Could human beings have had larger heads at one point, and possibly greater mental abilities? The answer to this question can only be speculated on, but it is definite that some humans had larger skulls at one point. The elongated skulls of Paracas are evidence of this. These remains prove that there were those who came before us with greater skull volume who at one point were living in what is now southern Peru. Like many mysteries of the ancients, how exactly this came about is a great enigma to present day man.

Modified or Mysterious?

Often the mystery of the elongated skulls of Paracas is written off as intentional body modification, possibly practiced for aesthetic reasons. This is impossible, however….

Lambayeque Archaeological Site
There are at least 26 important pyramids, along with enclosures and mounds, in the 540 acres of Tucume in Peru. Constructed of mud brick, they are located on the plain surrounding the La Raya Mountain, south of the La Leche River. Constructed by the Lambayeque in 1000 AD, they were conquered by the Chimu in 1375 and incorporated into the Incan Empire in 1470.
Local shaman healers called upon the powers of the Tucume and La Raya Mountain during their rituals. Thus Tucume is feared by the local people …

The Moche Mummy – the Lady of Cao
The story of El Brujo and Lady of Cao as told by archaeologists is of one magic and intrigue. The historical pyramid and the female mummy have continued to intrigue historians even up to today. They from part of cultural traditions of the Peruvian people and as the years go by, more and more people have an interest to learn the secrets that have not been uncovered for many years now. Located just close to the sea, the El Brujo pyramid stands still …

Moche Culture in Peru
Temples of the Sun and Moon
We visited the Temples of the Sun and Moon, which are both on the same site. However only the Temple of the Moon is open for visitors. Restoration of the Temple of the Moon began in 1991 and the site was opened to visitors in 1995, while restoration of the Temple of the Sun began earlier this year, in 2011. On site, a beautiful museum filled with Moche culture is located near the entrance of the Temple of the Moon.
This site is …

Pre-Inca Cultures of Northern Peru

The first cultural site Miro and I saw upon arriving in Peru was the Chimu site of Chan Chan, located in Trujillo. Chan Chan is the largest pre-Columbian city in Peru, covering about 20 sq km, and is estimated to have housed about 50,000 people. Prior to arriving in Peru, we had only heard of the Incas as the indigenous people of Peru, and had no idea that many other cultures flourished throughout Peru before the Incas.

The city of Chan Chan, capital of the Kingdom of …