Final answer:
Adobe is the word that describes the temple mounds of the Andean cultures, associated with the Moche civilization's use of adobe bricks for constructing large pyramids, and is also used in the Pueblo cultures' settlements in the Southwest United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that describes the temple mounds of the Andean cultures is adobe. The Moche architects and artists, known for their spectacular creations, utilized adobe bricks to construct large pyramids such as the Huaca del Sol (Temple of the Sun). These massive structures, made from millions of adobe bricks, showcase the architectural prowess of the Moche civilization and reflect a common building material in the coastal traditions of Andean cultures. In contrast, the Inca, known for their remarkable stone cities such as Machu Picchu and the Incan Temple of the Sun, primarily used stone in their construction, particularly in highland regions.
In addition, the Pueblo cultures of the Southwest United States also used adobe in their village-like settlements, creating multi-storied apartment buildings that facilitated a closely connected community while offering protection against intruders.