Cochasquí, Archaeological site in Tocachi, Ecuador
Cochasquí is an archaeological site near Tocachi, Ecuador, sprawling across roughly 80 hectares with fifteen pyramids and twenty-one funeral mounds built into the landscape. Several on-site museums display ancient artifacts and architectural remains found throughout the complex.
The Quitu-Cara civilization built the site between 500 and 1500 AD in two main phases spanning the centuries. These periods show how the population and their construction practices evolved over time.
The site served as a major ceremonial center where pre-Hispanic communities performed rituals and honored their dead. The layout of pyramids and mounds reflects how these people organized their spiritual life and beliefs about the afterlife.
The site sits at high elevation, and visitors should take time to explore the different museums to understand artifacts and their context. Guided tours help visitors make sense of how the pyramids and mounds are arranged across the landscape.
Some pyramids show a special astronomical alignment that allowed ancient builders to observe and study the sky from specific positions. This intentional positioning suggests that astronomers and priests worked together at this place.
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