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The El Brujo Complex of the Huaca Cao Viejo is a famous archaeological site and one of the major Tourist Attractions in and around Trujillo. The El Brujo Complex dates back to the Moche culture (100 BC-650 AD). It is a stepped pyramid lying in ruins and the most important part of it is a central court that was probably used primarily for religious ceremonies. This pyramid is the most impressive Moche site in the Chicama Valley and is commonly referred to as El Brujo or ‘The Sorcerer’. This origin of this name can be traced back to the common practice of the ‘shamens’ of the North coast to hold their healing ceremonies at hills or pre-Hispanic ruins which were considered as e places of power.
The ancient The El Brujo Complex in Trujillo is located near the sea, close to the small fishing village Santiago de Cao on the right border of the Chicama River. This valley lies immediately north of the Moche valley that was the location of the capital of the Mochica polity. The El Brujo Complex rises about 98 feet above the surrounding desert and is spread across an area of approximately 330 by 330 feet. It is thought that there are still many simple wattle-and-daub structures still buried under the sand that surrounds this stepped, truncated pyramid. The pyramid was built with thousands of adobe bricks and there were at least seven building phases. Also it is thought that during these phases, the central building underwent extensive remodeling and expansion. The beautiful painted reliefs preserved at Huaca Cao Viejo are in excellent state even today. The extremely dry climate of the Pacific coast of Peru and also the tradition of building over the older structures are responsible for it.
These mural ornamentations of The El Brujo Complex were discovered by local grave looters who reported the find in 1990 to a well known Peruvian banker interested in archaeology. Since then, the excavations, research and conservation measures have been funded by this person. The polychrome reliefs worked onto the clay plaster were done during the different building phases and most of these are relatively contemporary in age. The rubble covering the original plastered and painted walls on the main northeast facade of the building have been cleared to reveal many painted figures in high relief.
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