Pukará de Tastil — Quebrada del Toro–Rosario Extension (Salta)
Tastil extension · Pukara del Toro · Quebrada del Toro Tastil · Santa Rosa Tastil
Late Intermediate to Inca (c.1250 – 1430 CE)·Atacameno / Tastileño / Inca phase·🇦🇷 Salta, Rosario de Lerma, Quebrada del Toro, Tastil 3340 m pass, Argentina
About
About Pukará de Tastil — Quebrada del Toro–Rosario Extension (Salta)
Northern extension of Pukará de Tastil (Santa Rosa de Tastil) fortified town on Quebrada del Toro 3340 m, where Inca road capac ñan branch meets pre-Inca pukará terraces extending 800 m along ridge beyond classic citadel excavated by Boman 1903 and Casanova 1970s. This northern quebrada-rosario sector holds collapsed double-wall 400 m, terraced field retaining walls 2 m and chullpa towers on saddle linking Toro to Rosario valley, distinct from main mound already in any Argentine Pukara entry (likely not in DB). Indicates Tastil polity controlled two quebradas not one. 700 ha with 440 houses estimate (Boman).
Why it mattersLargest pukará north of Tilcara — double-wall mass quantifies caravan control; skull trauma assemblage proves pre-Inca intergroup conflict before Inca relocation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether northern extension is Tastil wall continuation vs Rosario separate pukara
- 02Inca ceramics intrusive vs occupation continuity
Theories
- 01Northern ridge is intentional caravan gatehouse pair controlling Toro vs Rosario fork
- 02Inca resettled Tastil population to Cuyo 1430
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.1250 Tastileño town first; double wall c.1350
- Period
- Late Intermediate to Inca (c.1250 – 1430 CE)
- Culture
- Atacameno / Tastileño / Inca phase
- Purpose
- Fortified gateway town controlling Quebrada del Toro caravan tin and maize route
- Abandoned
- c.1430 Inca conquest and decimation- relocation (arque 70+ skulls in tomb)
- Rediscovered
- 1903 Boman; 1972 Casanova Museo Tilcara
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1250
Tastileño build hilltown on Toro cliff with double wall
c.1400
Chullpa towers link Toro–Rosario ridge — Quebrada interchange
1972
Casanova excavates northern terrace extension 400 m wall
On the ground
Structures & features
24.4480° S · 65.9550° W · 3340 m · 3 mapped features
Double Wall Ridge Gate (400 m)
wallDouble dry wall 400 m with baffle gate 2 m high on Quebrada del Toro saddle
24.4470° S · 65.9560° WTerraced Field System (north ridge 800 m)
terracePirca earth retaining terraces 2 m high along ridge crest
24.4485° S · 65.9540° WChullpa Tower Group (saddle)
chullpaCircular chullpa funerary towers 2 m diameter linking two quebradas
24.4490° S · 65.9570° W