Inkilltambo, Archaeological site in San Sebastian District, Peru
Inkilltambo is an archaeological site with five carved niches cut into granite, agricultural terraces, waterways, and drainage systems built into the natural rock face. The different structures show a planned system for managing water and spaces arranged at various heights along the slope.
The site was founded between 1420 and 1438 during Inca Wiracocha's reign, when initial structures were built. Later, Pachacutec expanded it substantially to enhance religious practices and ceremonial activities.
The name comes from Quechua words combining 'Inkill', meaning garden or flowering place, with 'Tambo', meaning inn or resting place, showing what this site was originally for. Visitors can see how the rooms are arranged around a central courtyard, suggesting how people once moved through and stayed here.
Reach the site by taking public transport from Recoleta Avenue, followed by roughly one hour of walking on marked paths to the entrance. The walk is steep but the signs make navigation straightforward for visitors.
The central courtyard displays a three-part rock formation with yellow, red, and gray tones containing a special opening. This opening was likely used to track celestial movements, revealing the builders' knowledge of the night sky.
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