Rúpac, Pre-Inca archaeological site in Huaral Province, Peru.
Rúpac is an archaeological site in Peru's Huaral Province, situated at 3,400 meters above sea level on a mountain summit. The settlement contains around 50 kullpi buildings and approximately 25 chullpa structures distributed across four distinct sectors.
The Los Atavillos culture established this settlement around 800 AD following their migration from Lake Titicaca. Their arrival in the area coincided with the expansion of the Huari-Tiahuanaco Empire across the region.
The kullpis and chullpas served as spaces for ancestor worship and burial ceremonies. Food preparation and textile production took place within these structures to support the rituals performed there.
The trek to Rúpac takes around three hours uphill from Pampas town and leads to an exposed mountain summit with significant elevation changes. Temperatures fluctuate between roughly 18 degrees Celsius during the day and 7 degrees Celsius at night, requiring layered clothing.
The stone structures rise up to 10 meters high and demonstrate advanced building techniques developed by the Los Atavillos for high-altitude settlement. These construction methods enabled stable buildings on challenging mountain terrain without modern tools.
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