Pucará de Turi, Pre-Columbian fortress archaeological site in Calama, Chile
Pucará de Turi is an archaeological site with stone constructions spread across several hectares in high mountain terrain. Here you find approximately 620 structures including residential dwellings, spaces for religious ceremonies, and round stone towers.
The settlement developed around 900 and remained inhabited until about 1600, showing a long history of occupation. In the 15th century, Inca control brought major changes and new construction that reshaped the site.
The site shows a mix of Atacameño and Inca building styles visible in its rectangular houses, ceremonial areas, and circular stone towers. These different architectural traditions overlap at the location, revealing how various cultures lived and built here over time.
The location sits in mountainous terrain with little vegetation and can be explored during daytime visits. It helps to bring plenty of water and sun protection since the high elevation and open terrain mean intense light and dry conditions.
The site contains a distinctive long stone structure with a gabled roof that dates from the Inca period of control. This construction displays craftsmanship techniques that were characteristic of the Inca realm and remain visible today.
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