Cerro Pátapo ruins

The Cerro Pátapo ruins or Northern Wari ruins are the remains of a pre-Columbian city near the site of present-day Chiclayo, Peru. The ruins are primarily of the Wari (Huari) culture, which flourished from 350 CE to 1000 CE in the area along the coast and reaching to the highlands. These northern Wari ruins are distinguished from the Wari ruins in the Ayacucho Region to the south.

The discovery was announced on 16 December 2008 by the lead archeologist, Cesar Soriano. The ruins both present the first evidence of Wari influence found in Northern Peru and by their quality and extent, shows that this was an important site. Located 14 miles (23 kilometres) from Chiclayo, the ruins stretch over an area of 3 miles (4.8 kilometres).

The pre-Columbian Wari civilization was predominantly based in south-central Peru between the 7th and 12th centuries (600 to 1100 CE). It was known for having constructed a network of roads, and had an extensive territory. Scholars note its complex, distinctive architecture, monuments and roadbuilding as evidence that it was an empire.