The site of Pachacamac, famous as an oracle in later times, was venerated by 400 BC. Here a huge religious complex grew up, distributed around a large hill. On top of this was a pyramid containing an object to which were attributed powers of divination.
There were also many minor shrines, pyramids topped by sacred rooms, each associated with a large storehouse for offerings. It has been suggested that each of these shrines was the property and responsibility of a particular community whose people would attend periodic ceremonies or ritual festivities here.
Graves and offerings chart Pachacamac's continuing importance as a pilgrim centre through the early centuries AD and it gained greatly in power and prestige with the decline of the Huari state around 800.
