Ancient World
Huaca Pucllana: The Lima Culture Adobe Pyramid in Miraflores
A major Lima culture ceremonial centre, later reused as a cemetery, now an excavated archaeological site inside the modern city.
Region
Americas
Ancient World
Temple of the Feathered Serpent at Teotihuacan and Its Tunnel
A major state temple whose construction involved the sacrifice of well over a hundred people; its sealed tunnel has yielded tens of thousands of offerings.
Ancient World
Pyramid of the Sun: Teotihuacan's Monumental Great Pyramid
The pyramid became the dominant monument of Teotihuacan, the largest city of the ancient Americas, and a lasting sacred landmark for later Mesoamerican peoples.
Ancient World
Lord of Sipán: The Richest Royal Tomb Found in the Americas
The first intact tomb of a Moche ruler ever excavated scientifically, transforming knowledge of Moche kingship and ritual.
Ancient World
Xitle Eruption: The Lava That Buried Cuicuilco in Ancient Mexico
Lava flows covered Cuicuilco and some 70-80 square kilometres of the southern Valley of Mexico, ending the settlement's long occupation.
Ancient World
Tikal Stela 29: The Oldest Dated Lowland Maya Monument
Its date became the conventional marker for the start of the Classic Maya period in the southern lowlands.
Ancient World
Leiden Plaque: A Maya Jade Record of a King's Accession in 320
A portable jade ornament that preserves one of the earliest Long Count dates from the Maya lowlands and an early image of Maya kingship.
Ancient World
Teotihuacan Entrada of AD 378: Siyaj K'ak' Arrives at Tikal
Tikal's ruling king died on the day of Siyaj K'ak's arrival, and a new royal line with strong ties to Teotihuacan came to power in AD 379.
Ancient World
Founding of Copán's Dynasty: K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo' in AD 426
K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo' became the first king of a dynasty of sixteen rulers that governed Copán for nearly four centuries.
Ancient World
Lady of Cao: A Tattooed Moche Ruler Buried at El Brujo
The discovery of a richly buried, tattooed woman with symbols of rule showed that women could hold high political and religious office in Moche society.
Middle Ages
Kuelap: The Cloud-Forest Citadel of the Chachapoyas
Kuelap became the largest walled settlement of the Chachapoya culture and was later absorbed into the Inca Empire.
Middle Ages
Tiwanaku: The Andean Civilization by Lake Titicaca
Tiwanaku became the dominant city and religious centre of the southern Andes before declining around 1000–1150.