Archaeologists excavated the Moche site of Licapa II in the Peruvian La Libertad area, revealing the remains of a 1,400-year-old residence that is believed to be a member of the local elite.
The building, described by researchers as a “little palace” and dates back to the late Moche period (600-700 AD), a period of regional interactions growing on the mid horizon when Wari Empire began to expand its influence.
Leading by Henry Tantaleán of the University of Barcelona San Marcos and Carito Tavera, the Chicama Archaeological Project found that a five-bedroom adobe structure painted yellow on the exterior and separated by the surrounding areas used for crafts and home work.
Tantalan told Andina News Agency. The discovery confirms the assumption first proposed in 2024, when initial excavations suggest the existence of elite families.
Find a place of residence within the wealth and coverage of the occupant. High-quality moche ceramics decorated with warrior images were found from imported ships, textile debris and food residues in Cajamarca. The bones of capuchin monkeys from Amazon, Andean camels and coastal birds suggest that exotic goods and animals are brought into products or salutes. Archaeologists have also found evidence of Lukama and other fruits, which suggests residents’ dietary habits are richer than the average Moche community.
Before abandoning it around 700 AD, the structure was deliberately buried under Adobe bricks over one meter, requiring the modern excavation team to demolish about a thousand bricks to reach the building.
Tantaleán added: “The great effort to cover this residence is a sign and indicator of its importance and its respect.”
Excavations of Licapa II are underway, and researchers continue to restore decorative ceramics and animal remains. Located in the Chima Valley, the site seems to have flourished after the peak of the adjacent ritual centre of El Brujo, emphasizing the ever-changing center of power within the Moche world.
