Caballo Muerto

The Caballo Muerto archaeological complex that is located on the northern coast of Peru in the Moche Valley. The entire complex has a series of mound sites that span both the "Initial Period" in 2100 - 1200 BC as well as "The Early Horizon" 1200 - 200 BC. The site includes dozens of architectural sites upon interlocking platforms. The site became prominent during a heightened interest period in Cupisnique culture. It was declared a Cultural Heritage of Peru in 2001.

The entire site covers 1482.63 acres and it is estimated that 2000 people lived here. It is believed that the site was occupied from 1500 to 400 BC and belongs to the Middle Formative time period. The archaeological complex consists of buildings of stone and adobe with mud used as mortar. The walls are decorated with carved images of animals.

The people of Caballo Muerto used irrigated land reclaimed from the desert. The people lived off animals such as deer and llamas. It is believed that the Caballo Muerto people are direct descendants from the Moche civilization.

The site was discovered by archaeologist Michael E. Moseley from Harvard University in 1972. Other archaeologists, Luis Watanabe, Thomas G. Pozorski and Jorge Ruiz Barcellos, assisted in the discovery.