Tipón, Archaeological site in Quispicanchi Province, Peru
Tipón is an archaeological site in Quispicanchi Province featuring twelve terraces carved into a mountainside at high elevation. A natural spring feeds a sophisticated system of stone-lined water channels that irrigated the entire complex for cultivation and use.
The site originated in the early Inca period, possibly under Pachacuti or Topa Inca Yupanqui, as a specialized settlement for agricultural experimentation. The Inca refined and expanded this location over time into a center for testing cultivation methods in the mountain region.
This site served as a center for agricultural experimentation where the Inka tested different crops under controlled conditions. The terraced fields still reveal the careful planning that went into refining farming techniques across varying elevations.
The site is about an hour away from Cusco by taxi or public transportation and is accessed via a walking path. The terrain is uneven and rolling, so plan time according to your fitness level and interests.
The American Society of Civil Engineers recognized this site as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark for its water management system. This rare honor for a pre-Columbian project demonstrates that Inca engineering techniques impressed modern specialists.
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