A 4,500 years old temple was discovered in Lambayeque

Recently, the Peruvian archaeologist Ignacio Alva discovered a structure that could mark the origin of the northern cultures of Peru such as the Moche, in Chiclayo, Lambayeque. The temple was built with mud; it has 20 meters on its side and is part of three sections that together form a pyramid on the Ventarrón hill. It is decorated with designs of fish and fishnets.

On the ground floor that includes the first phase built 4,500 years ago, a modeled image of two fish crossed and looking in opposite directions near a fire altar was found. This image is similar in size and technique to the “crossed hands”, a modeled in the archaeological site of Kotosh located in the central Andes in Huánuco, which is 4,000 years old. Mud and walls that were built on top of older structures for many years cover most of the site.

It is possible that this structure was part of a religious hub since archaeological evidences that point to that theory have been found in its surroundings.