This temple ruin is also known as the Temple of the Crossed Hands because of the life-sized mud molding of a pair of crossed hands, which is the site’s highlight. The molding dates to about 2000 BC and is now at Lima’s Museo Nacional de Antropología, Arqueología e Historía del Perú; a replica remains. Little is known about Kotosh, one of the most ancient Andean cultures. The site is easily visited by taxi (S12, including a 30-minute wait and return).
In the hills 2km above the site, Quillaromi cave has impressive prehistoric paintings. Kotosh is about 5km west of town off La Unión road.
