We continued to place test pits in the different pyramids with ramps at the site. This year's program included pyramidal complexes n°4, 5, 8 and finishing the excavations in pyramid n°15. All these buildings were surveyed and mapped by the topography team, who undertook the enormous and complex task of mapping Pyramid with ramp n°1, aka JB. Exploration of the inner transit system within the Second Precinct continued, both in the Central Plaza and its annexes. An important pre-Inca cemetery was detected between the Pilgrims' Plaza and the Central Plaza, within the precinct of Pyramid with ramp n°13.

Excavation of a funerary bundle



Partial view of the cemetery undergoing excavation

The 2004 Field season at Pachacamac

The beginning of the 2004 field season, originally scheduled for mid-January, was delayed for administrative reasons , i.e. the renewal of the agreement pertaining to scientific cooperation, between the Peruvian authorities and the ULB, and the related excavation permit. Excavations began on the 19 th of April and lasted until the 26 th of May.

This year's program included test pits in 4 pyramids with ramps (4, 5, 8 and 15), the survey of the circulation system, clearing of monumental structures for mapping purposes and general topography of the monumental sector, plus special studies involving physical anthropology, ceramics, etc.

Excavations in pyramids are designed to shed light on chronology of these buildings, i.e. the date of foundation and the duration of occupation. The methodology detailed in previous sections was scrupulously followed in order to determine the foundation date of the 4 pyramids mentioned, but field work led me to consider other evidence with regard to the dating of their abandonment. Survey and clearing showed that in those pyramids, and possibly in others as yet unexplored, voluntary abandonment is marked by a systematic blocking of access by means of adobe walls built across doorways. This phenomenon occurs particularly in the platform area and adjacent rooms. For this reason we have now focused our research on these sectors, i.e. we have excavated these sealed entries in order to determine the moment of ritual closing of the pyramid. Samples for dating have been collected and will be processed in the following months.

The clearing of the pyramids and the survey of the circulation system within the Second Precinct have revealed very interesting features that I will now comment on. In Pyramid 4, we have been able to demonstrate that this building was equipped with a large forecourt, 72m long, 20m wide, surrounded by adobe walls, 1.20 m wide, which have been dismantled to their base. This is the reason why this pyramid appears only as a simple platform with ramp, both as viewed in the field and on Uhle's famous 1903 plan of the site. The end of the forecourt, i.e. the side opposite the platform with a ramp, corresponds to the actual eastern wall of the North Street, which cut the site in two halves. Ceramic evidence suggest that the wall of the forecourt was dismantled during the Inca period, and that the adobes were probably used in order to build up the North Street by constructing walls along its course. We searched for the original entrance to Pyramid 4 but unfortunately were not able to find it, because of these modifications to the original architecture. Nevertheless, a 3-D virtual reconstruction of the Pyramid will eventually enable us to visualize its appearance, including the original height of the walls, evidence for which could be found near the platform.

Once the platform was cleared and excavated, it showed a different pattern from other pyramids with central ramps, suggesting that the platform too was greatly modified . In its final architectural phase, the platform was accessible through the ramp and equipped with a rear central access, with stairs leading to a smaller area with a central square hole for a post, which was probably an idol. Offerings of turquoise beads and shells have been found at the bottom of the posthole, but no traces of the post itself. All this evidence suggests a ritual use of the pyramid during its final phase of occupation, which covered another phase with benches and a formal entrance, all of which correspond to the regular pattern of pyramids with a central ramp and an elite residence. In the present state of research, it appears that this building was voluntarily abandoned during the LIP when it functioned as a palace, and was transformed and reused for ritual purposes during the Late Horizon. As well as dating these different phases, our goal is to reconstruct the physical appearance of the building through time via our survey and map.

Pyramid 5 also shows strong modifications of the same kind, which suggests that those pyramids situated close to the main access to the site, (the North-South Street), were used in preference to the others by the Incas for their own purposes, while pyramids excavated and mapped in previous seasons, all situated further away, have not undergone the same treatment.

Pyramid 8 was also transformed and its forecourt wall was dismantled. This structure has been heavily looted but nevertheless we could identify several phases in the architecture. Interestingly, the earliest phase still shows evidence of mud plaster covering intact niches, which means that these were carefully covered up while it was still under occupation.

As stated previously, Pyramid 15 was very disturbed owing to the colonial occupation by goat herders. Nevertheless, we were able to finish last year's excavations and collect evidence on chronology.

By clearing the structures, we were fortunate enough to find burials in Pyramids 4, 5 and 8. In the first two instances, these were intact burials corresponding to the post-abandonment period. One of these was a child who was buried alive, as has been demonstrated by the forensic study of the remains. This accords with what we know from colonial accounts about the custom of burying small children alive in honour of Pachacamac, lord of the earth and master of earthquakes, as is stated in the chronicles of Cobo and Garcilaso de la Vega. The burials in pyramid 8 are also late in comparison with the occupation of the building, for they correspond to the Late Horizon. Although superficially disturbed, these burials were partly intact and we recovered some fine example of pottery, including one complete aryballus, as well as fragments of colourful, decorated textiles.

Pyramids 4, 5 and 8, as well as pyramid 1 were mapped by the survey team. The latter pyramid had been completed exavated and partially restored by Arturo Jiménez Borja in 1958-60. The general contours of the area were recorded, so that we will be able to reconstruct the entire “C” zone of the site as well as part of the Third Precinct with pyramids. Other areas that have also been mapped this year are part of the southwestern “A” zone, with the famous Pilgrims Plaza, and also the circulation system that surrounds the South Street and its related structures.

Systematic clearing of passages and corridors has enabled us not only to reconstruct their plan but also part of their original appearance, in the sense that the closer one gets to the Sacred Precinct, the more are the restrictions placed on access to the Temple area. This is shown by the height of the wall around Plaza 26, the main forecourt, where the South Street ends. The walls and paths seem to have been deliberately designed so that it was impossible to watch what was happening in this forecourt from outside it. Inside it we have discovered the remains of offerings and ritual activities.

In 2003, beneath one of these corridors, at the limit of of the Sacred Precinct, we discovered an intact stratigraphic column that covers the whole occupation at Pachacamac. Sterile soil was reached at 5.5m deep. The lowest layers contained Middle Lima (i.e. pre-Huari) contexts, with architecture and associated sherds. This excavation was amplified this year (2004) and it led to the discovery of an intact cemetery , which extends beneath the walls of the Sacred Precinct and into the rear plaza of Pyramid n°13. This cemetery is exceptionally rich, and there are several different funerary patterns encountered (sacrificed individuals, mummy bundles, flexed individuals lying on their side) (see  http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5018275/    )

The zone we explored is covered by more than two metres of collapsed walls , corridor floors and fill, all intact from an archaeological point of view. The pit we excavated this year was 6 x 2m in area and contained almost 30 individuals, as many intact vessels and an enormous number of sherds and other artefacts. We encountered Late Intermediate and Middle Horizon artefacts from different regions, including vessels related to the Sican style from the North Coast and to the Huari style from the Central Highlands. By comparison with our 2003 cut and other pits excavated this year, the cemetery extends at least 2 to 3 metres deeper and probably covers an area between 100 and 300 m2.

In sum, this season has been one of the most productive in our work at Pachacamac and the discoveries that we have made are very promising for future seasons. The support of the Curtiss T. and Mary G. Brennan Foundation Grant has been crucial for our investigations. The full results of the research (plans and 3D reconstructions) require extensive post-field processing, which is currently under way.

We expect to expand the excavation of this graveyard next year (2005), so as to explore the complete stratigraphic sequence of burials. This represents a superb opportunity to collect data on one of the major archaeological contexts of pre-Columbian Peru, using the latest scientific and technological resources.