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Tourist Guide |
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Visit Us: Portal Comercio 121
Main Square Cusco – Peru
E-mail:
info@perucusco.com
MSN:
perucusco@hotmail.com
Skype:
perucusco
Call us: 0051 84 25329 (Office)
Mobil 0051 84 9625171 (24 Hrs)
Included Sunday & Holidays
Schedule Work 09 Hrs 20 Hrs |
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Peru
Archaeological. |
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Peru is
steeped in a rich archaeological heritage, with some of
the most important sites lying in the coastal desert of
the northern coast and in the southern Andean Highlands.
In this guide a general overview of the most important
sites in these areas is presented, enabling the reader
to gain an insight into Peruvian archaeology and the
cultures responsible for this legacy.
The few large valleys of the North Coast of Peru, which
break up the monotony of the desert, feature some of the
oldest monumental architecture of the Andes.
Archaeologists consider it one of the few regions of the
world where pristine states emerged.
By the third millennium BC the early inhabitants of this
region developed a highly efficient economy based
primarily on the rich marine resources of the Peruvian
coast. Very complex societies emerged in this region
long before the advent of large-scale irrigation
agriculture or ceramics. Unfortunately, we still know
very little about these mysterious cultures.
After intensive agriculture was firmly established by
the second millennium, the cultures of this region
showed increased integration. The Mochica culture (100
BC-600 AD) appeared as the result of a long development
process and is probably not the first multi-valley
polity. However, its achievements in terms of the size,
quantity and the quality of their architecture and works
of art mark a new level of sociocultural integration.
Many scholars talk of the Moche as a very belligerent,
even expansionist, state-level society, with strong,
powerful rulers. The power of these rulers, like those
buried at SIPAN, can be measured by the wealth witnessed
at sites like EL BRUJO or the HUACA DEL SOL Y DE LA LUNA
COMPLEX, where lavish ceremonies undoubtedly took place.
The Lambayeque or Sicán culture (1000/1100-1350 AD)
continued the pyramid-building tradition of the Moche,
as can he seen at the site of TUCUME, and expanded the
already large irrigation system built by their
forefathers. Ancient settlements like TUCUME, while
still characterized by huge pyramids, also show a
slightly more urban character. Large scale manufacturing
of luxury goods, an old tradition on the North.
Coast, reached new heights during the Sicán era. The
Sicán people were, among other things, masters of
metallurgy.
The Chimú empire (1200-1470 AD), with its capital in
CHAN CHAN appears to have used military force to
expand, conquering TUCUME and all the North and
Central coast of Peru. Their domain stretched from
Pativillca, north of Lima, to Tumbes, near the modern
border with Ecuador. The size and quality of the
citadels of CHAN CHAN, the first non-pyramidal
buildings to take on great importance, betray an
enormous amount of labor invested to separate the rulers
(who must have seemed something resembling living
deities) from the masses of the working population.
Parallel to the Chimú expansion, a small ethnic group,
whose main temple in Cusco was to be become the
impressive KORICANCHA, began taking over the
southern Andes. After the defeat of the invading Chanca
army under the guidance of Inca Pachacutec, the Inca
began a formidable series of conquests, first across the
heavily segmented valleys of the southern Andes and the
Titicaca Basin, then onto the coast. In many of the
areas conquered they made more land available for
agriculture by building terraces and canals of
unparalleled effectiveness and beauty. Excellent
examples can be seen at
OLLANTAYTAMBO and MACHU PICCHU.
The Inca subjugated the Chimú by 1470 AD, but even in
that case, where they encountered bitter resistance,
they preferred to leave the local leaders in power while
establishing firm economic and ceremonial ties. A major
strategy of consolidation, especially in areas of
notoriously rebellious subjects, was the large-scale
relocation of population.
The Incas operators operating in conquered territories
tended to establish themselves on or near strategic
points, such as in Huaca Larga in TUCUME. They
assimilated the culture of their former foes,
integrating their gods to the Inca pantheon and, in the
case of the Chimú, transferring metal smiths from CHAN
CHAN to Cusco.
By April 1532, when Pizarro’s troops sailed towards
mainland Peru on a flotilla of balsa wood rafts, the
Inca empire was reeling from a series of smallpox
epidemics, one of which killed the Inca emperor, leading
to a destructive war of succession between his sons.
The impeccable stone walls of the Inca capital of Cusco,
more a huge ceremonial center than a city, are mute
witnesses to the former splendor and the bitterness of
the final defeat suffered at the walls of
SACSAYHUAMAN.
If you are interested to visit the north of Peru
including the most important archaeological sites and
Museums visit out tour programs page where you will also
find programs to Kuelap fortress and Chachapoyas area.
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