Huaca Palao, Pre-Hispanic archaeological site in San Martín de Porres District, Peru.
Huaca Palao is an archaeological site in Lima consisting of streets, dividing walls, a cemetery, and defensive structures built with mud and stone. The complex sits on a natural hill that was modified with terraces to provide access to both coastal and agricultural resources.
The site dates to the Late Horizon period when Tupac Yupanqui defeated the Colli leaders and brought the region under Inca rule. This conquest marked a major shift in how the coastal area was governed and organized.
The archaeological remains rise over a natural hill, modified through the construction of terraces and walls providing access to marine and agricultural resources.
The site is located in northern Lima at the intersection of the Ingeniería and Palao neighborhoods, near the Constitutional Province of Callao. Visitors should expect uneven ground and wear appropriate footwear for walking on the archaeological terrain.
In the late 1970s, local residents led by Manuel Zevallos Flores recognized the site's importance and constructed a protective fence around it. This community effort helped preserve the complex from deterioration and unauthorized development.
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