A stone-built monumental ceremonial center in the northern Peruvian highlands, Pacopampa was an important regional hub during the Andean Formative period, with sophisticated cut-and-polished masonry that reflects complex social organization in the Cajamarca highlands.
Pacopampa ceased functioning as a ceremonial centre at the end of the Final Formative Period around 50 BCE, after approximately 1,200 years of use, though the ruins continued to serve as a ritual space into the Early Cajamarca Period (c. 200–450 CE).
Burger situates northern Highland Formative sites including Pacopampa within the Chavín sphere of interaction, explaining how the site fits into pan-Andean religious networks.
In-print English survey of ancient South America covering the Formative-period highland cultures like Pacopampa.