Archaeology in Peru

Discover 20 places to experience unusual archaeology in Peru.

Pyramids of Caral-Supe

A 5,000-year-old city in Peru holds the remains of a stunning set of astronomically-aligned pyramids.

Tile depicting the Moche creator god, Ayapec.

Huaca de la Luna

The outside of this exposed Moche pyramid is covered with striking colorful adobe friezes.

The Twelve-Angled Stone

This geometric feat is a testament to the Incas' mesmerizing architectural abilities.

Puquios ojo at Cantalloc Aqueducts

Puquios

The sophisticated hydraulic system of the Nazca civilization.

Antonini Museum.

Museo Antonini

This archaeological museum in one of Peru’s most intriguing regions exhibits ancient artifacts from the Nazca civilization.

The Paredones.

The Paredones

These overlooked ruins give an intimate look at the Inca Empire's urban planning prowess.

The 1948 plaque honoring Hiram Bingham.

Aguas Calientes, Peru

Machu Picchu Discovery Plaques

It took 82 years and four different plaques to finally get the story right.

The Inca Bridge, a backdoor to Machu Picchu.

Aguas Calientes, Peru

Inca Bridge

A backdoor to Machu Picchu that only the most foolhardy infiltrator would attempt to breach.

Some unnerving faces in Leymebamba Museum

Leymebamba, Peru

Mummies of Museo Leymebamba

Hundreds of mummies in a silent room, some with eerily pained expressions preserved on their faces.

Erotic art.

Larco Museum's Erotic Art

The large collection of pre-Columbian pottery might make you blush.

Looking across the circular structure of Pamashto, with the two solstice-aligned openings.

Ceremonial Center of Pamashto

A circle of stones on a hilltop in Peru’s high jungle, aligned with the winter solstice and largely ignored by archaeologists.

The "map" petroglyph

San Martín, Peru

Petroglyphs of Polish

This set of mysterious petroglyphs in the Peruvian jungle could shed light on centuries-old activities in the region.

Huánuco Pampa.

Provincia de Dos de Mayo, Peru

Huánuco Pampa

This remarkably well-preserved Incan city managed to survive the conquistadores.

A wax figure of Dr. Reiche sits at her typewriter at the museum dedicated to her life.

Maria Reiche Museum

A museum dedicated to the German scientist who revealed the significance of the mysterious Peruvian Nazca Lines.

Row after row of skulls

The Room of 10,000 Ancient Skulls

Lima’s Museum of Anthropology is lined with thousands of elongated human craniums.

Sarcofagi of Carajía

Sarcofagi of Carajía

These giant mummies are set ominously into a Peruvian cliffside and topped with real human skulls.