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Tourism in Waullac Archaeological Complex

Posted On: 20 May 2024 #TierrasVivas 712

The archaeological complex of Waullac has manifestations from the pre-Inca era, there is evidence of this in the Recuay culture in the Wari period. Its main characteristic is its 5 structures with rock formations and it was used for funerary purposes. It was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation on December 16, 2005.

Location

With origins in the year 600 AD, it is located in Antaoko (hillside), Independencia district, 2 km from Huaraz, Ancash region of Peru with a height of 3100 meters above sea level.

Description

It was used as a cemetery, it has 5 structures made of rocks in the shape of niches known as chullpas. Its main building is located towards the west end with greater proportion and finish called Lintels Recuay.

History

The Waullac Archaeological Complex is located within the spaces of the Nepeña district, in the province of Santa, 2 km from Huaraz, within the Ancash region. Waullac would have its origin in approximately the year 600 AD. and it would be linked to the pre-Inca Recuay culture with influence or overlap of Wari architecture.

Waullac would have been created for funerary purposes. In it we can observe the presence of five structures made from edged stone with elevated cavities similar to small niches, which gives the impression that they were chullpas or adaptations to them made by the Wari during their settlement in the territory of the Recuay.

Architecture

Recuay funerary architecture was characterized by being located in territories that took advantage of the depressions in the soil or fractures in the rocks. This use of the land can still be seen in various structures of the Waullac Archaeological Complex. Regarding the Recuay funeral home, it was identified by having the capacity to be removable, which suggests that the bodies deposited in the tombs were constantly removed with possible ceremonial intentions. This Recuay influence can still be observed in the remains of Waullac.

The reason why the Recuay removed their dead to make them participate in different ceremonies is closely related to fertility since these settlers thought that death was a process of rebirth, and in that sense the dead was a seed that returned to the earth. land to germinate life.

Characteristics of the Archaeological Complex

  • The Recuay funeral home has the capacity to be removable.
  • Adoration of their deceased, especially those of Wari and Recuay.
  • The Wari culture saw death as a sign of fertility where one returns to the earth to germinate a new seed.
  • It has an archaeological monolith, carved on the stone made by the Recuay culture

How To Get?

From Huaraz: we take an 8-minute trip by car or you can do it on foot in 20 minutes.

In order to access the Waullac Archaeological Complex, whose entrance will read “Archaeological and tourist recreational center”, we must make a trip of approximately five minutes from Huaraz and entry is semi-restricted. The Center in which these pre-Inca archaeological remains are found is the scene of visits that not only have cultural purposes, but also recreational ones, in which there are areas for sports practices such as volleyball, soccer and fishing, the latter occurring in the so-called Waullac pool.

It is suggested that anyone visiting the place take a tour of the ruins on the east side of the Complex, which are in a better state of conservation than the rest. The traveler should not be surprised either if he observes in an area of ​​the route the presence of a large number of buried rocks, these come from a natural disaster after the origin of the territory and which was caused by the 1941 alluvium.

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Edwin Caviedes is the founder and manager of Tierras Vivas, a company that benefits native people communities.