Ninamarka, Archaeological site in Paucartambo Province, Peru.
Ninamarka is an archaeological site with approximately 30 stone burial towers constructed on a mountain peak at around 3,000 meters elevation. The towers stand closely spaced across this elevated location and display varying sizes and building techniques.
These burial structures date to the period before Inca rule and demonstrate the settlement of the Cusco region by earlier Andean peoples. The tower construction reflects building expertise that developed over many generations.
These burial towers served as final resting places for members of a community that inhabited this region long before the Inca Empire. The way the structures were built reveals how important the proper burial of the dead was to these pre-Inca people.
Access to the site requires a guided hike through mountainous terrain starting from Colquepata village and taking several hours. Visitors should prepare for high elevations and unpredictable weather, bringing sturdy footwear and warm layers.
Many of the towers have retained their original form and structure despite centuries of exposure to wind, snow, and rain at this elevation. This durability is especially remarkable given that they were built using stone without modern mortar.
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