Incallajta (Inkallajta) – Largest Inca Site in Kollasuyo
Inkallaqta · Incallacta · Pocona Fortress
Late Horizon Inca Imperial (1463–1536 CE)·Inca (Tawantinsuyu – Tupac Yupanqui / Huayna Capac)·🇧🇴 Cochabamba, Pocona Municipality, Bolivia
About
About Incallajta (Inkallajta) – Largest Inca Site in Kollasuyo
Gigantic Inca imperial town (c.1463–1530s, Tupac Yupanqui) on eastern Andean slope guarding Cochabamba–Antisuyo frontier: Kallanka great hall 78 m long × 26 m wide × 13 m high (largest roofed Inca building, 11 gables, 44 niches, 11 doors, could house 5000), ushnu pyramid platform, 40 tower-like granary qolqas and triple-jamb gate. Easternmost major Inca center, built to hold Chiriguano (Guaraní) wars frontier after conquest of Collasuyo. Described by Sarmiento de Gamboa as Pocona fortress; UNESCO Tentative 2003.
Why it mattersLargest Inca site in eastern Kollasuyo / Antisuyo; kallanka is largest roofed Inca hall known (~2000 sq m) demonstrating Inca capacity for mass indoor assembly; frontier war architecture study case.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Roof truss reconstruction 78 m span without central posts
- 02Antisuyo frontier population resettlement mitma
Theories
- 01Ceremonial center legitimizing Inca forest frontier expansion
- 02Forward operating base for Tupac's Antisuyo entrada against Chiriguanos
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1463–1472 foundation, enlarged 1480–1520
- Period
- Late Horizon Inca Imperial (1463–1536 CE)
- Culture
- Inca (Tawantinsuyu – Tupac Yupanqui / Huayna Capac)
- Purpose
- Frontier garrison capital and kallanka assembly-palace dominating Antisuyo border
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1463–1472 foundation, enlarged 1480–1520
Initial construction
c. 1498 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
17.6050° S · 65.4158° W · 2950 m · 2 mapped features
Kallanka great hall
structure78×26 m hall 13 m high with 44 trapezoidal niches, 11 doors, gable notched peaks
17.6053° S · 65.4156° WUshnu pyramid and qolqa granaries
temple8 m ushnu platform 30×25 m and eastern ridge of 40 qolqa towers
17.6046° S · 65.4148° W