This archaeological complex belongs to the Recuay culture, its construction dates back more than two thousand years and is located next to the Paria community, whose inhabitants make excellent popular art. Research indicates that it was used as a necropolis for the dignitaries of the society of that time. The main building, built of stone, is about nine meters high, and its interior preserves passageways and rooms.
- Distance from Cuesta Serena: 35 km.
- Altitude: 3,400 meters.
- Location: Paria (Huaraz).
- Recommended visit time: 1 hour.
- Total duration of the experience: half a day.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm.
Also known as Huillcahuayín, it is an archaeological site made up of the remains of an architectural complex from Ancient Peru in the pre-Inca era where they built a three-story temple called Huilcauaín, located in the Huaylas alley, approximately 7 km from the city of Huaraz, the Independencia district, department of Ancash, located at 3,400 meters above sea level. It was one of the administrative centers of the Huari culture. 800 meters from Huillcahuaín they found the Ichic Willkahuaín Archaeological complex made up of different smaller scale architectural structures. To the entire set of smaller scale architectural structures.
History
The Peruvian archaeologist Julio C. Tello worked at the site that he named Willcahuian in 1937, later Wendell Bennet continued his studies, discovering a cemetery, which he dated to the Tiahuanaco-Huari period (1944).
Huilcahuaín could have been the last capital of the Recuay Culture, before being conquered by the Huari military. They say that they had an alliance between the Recuay leader class and the Huari, through a royal marriage. The truth is that at the end of the Late Intermediate and beginning of the Middle Horizon, cultural changes are perceived in the Callejón de Huaylas region. The Huilcahuain used tombs in underground galleries; this type of burial was replaced by mausoleums or chullpas, which are platform constructions. The misnamed “Temple” of Huilcahuain would be one of those mausoleums-chullpas, where members of the ruling class would be buried, with elements typical of the Tiahuanaco-Huari culture.
Ichic Willkahuain Archaeological Complex
Near Huilcahuain is the Ichic Willkahuain Archaeological complex, made up of 15 chullpas, also influenced by the Huari Culture. The Chullpas are small towers of approximately 2 to 3 floors, with several chambers inside, intended as collective burial sites for the elite, a form of burial that replaced the traditional burial in underground galleries dating back to the Chavín culture. Excavations carried out between 2005 and 2007, financed by the mining company Barrick Misquichillca, unearthed textiles, metal objects, Ofrenda ceramics and batanes (stone grinders) that were used to crush some type of product, either for religious rituals or for human consumption.
The Wilcahuain Temple:
The main building of the complex has been called "Temple" although in reality it is a mausoleum. It was part of the urban center of Huilcahuaín, which must have been of considerable size. It was built on a surface partially filled to flatten it.
The Temple is similar to the Chavín castle, although smaller; At its base it measures approximately 10.7 by 15.6 m. The masonry of its walls is made of rustic stone with some pachillas joined with clay mortar. It has three floors or platforms linked by interior stairs and ramps; Each floor has its respective entrance. In total it has 19 interior rooms: five on the first floor, seven on the second and seven also on the third. It also has a ventilation system for galleries and wells. The roof is made up of large slabs inclined towards a double slope. Its height is 9 m.
How to get?
The Archaeological Remains of Wilcahuain are located 7 km from the city of Huaraz, in Ancash. By car it is a 32-minute trip, according to Google Maps.
This place does not have a track, so the journey takes approximately 45 minutes by car and two and a half hours walking.
The service is every day, it does not have restaurants, but it does have small shops. The visit to these two archaeological centers in less than half a day.
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