When one thinks of Peru, the Inca culture is always at the forefront of their minds. However, the history of Peru pyramids stretches back thousands of years before the height of the Cusco empire. In the valleys of the Pacific coast, there were already civilizations building massive platforms, complex societies, and a system of worship that would define the culture of the Andes for thousands of years to come.
The ancient pyramids in Peru are not imitations of Egyptian structures, nor were they built as burial grounds for monarchs. Instead, the vast majority of them were built as centers of worship, government, and elite housing. These buildings were often added to incrementally, with each generation constructing on top of the last. This has resulted in many of the ancient pyramids of Peru being hundreds of years old.
To comprehend the pyramids, one must understand that the Inca civilization was not the start of the culture of the Andes but rather the end of a long line of cultural development.
