Uchkus Inkañan, Archaeological site in Huancavelica, Peru
Uchkus Inkañan is an archaeological site along the left bank of the Ichu River at approximately 3500 meters elevation near Yauli District, with preserved structures spanning multiple periods. The complex contains three distinct sectors designed for different purposes, including agricultural production, water management, and observation functions.
The site originated between 1200 BCE and 100 CE with early pastoralists and farmers establishing settlements in the region. Later developments under the Anccaras culture from 1200 to 1440 CE brought significant changes to its layout and use.
The site reflects traditional Andean approaches to mountain farming, showing how communities adapted steep terrain for cultivation. The visible terraces and water systems remain core features that define how people historically worked this highland landscape.
The site is reachable from Huancavelica by private vehicle in around 3 hours or by public bus through mountain roads. The high altitude location requires good physical fitness and appropriate clothing for variable highland weather conditions.
A 12-meter-deep mine shaft from the 17th century sits within the Qorimina sector, revealing later-period uses of the site. This mining structure was built atop the earlier archaeological remains, showing how the location retained importance for generations.
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