Yachaymarca (Yachay Marca)
Yachaymarca · Yachay Marca · Ancash hilltop village · Yachay hillfort
Late Intermediate to Late Horizon (c.1000-1532 CE)·Andean Late Intermediate-Late Horizon (Wari–Inca)·🇵🇪 Ancash Region, Corongo Province, Yachay hilltop, Peru
About
About Yachaymarca (Yachay Marca)
Yachaymarca (Yachay Marca) in Ancash Region, Corongo Province, Yachay hilltop is an Andean highland fortified village — Late Intermediate hillfort with double-faced stone walls, colca storage and Wari-Inca ceramics, contemporary with the southern Andes village sphere linking Yachaymarca to Lima's Lurín valley (Huaycán). Chullpa tombs and hillfort defences document the highland village pattern complementing north Mexico Paquimé desert-canyon towns.
Why it mattersHighland Andean Late Intermediate hillfort documenting Wari-Inca village fortification between Ancash and Lima, expanding Americas beyond Mesoamerica.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of fortified enclosure vs flood defence?
- 02Chronology refined by radiocarbon or ceramic seriation?
Theories
- 01Regional centre vs satellite model
- 02Diffusion vs local development
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.1100 CE Late Intermediate hillfort village
- Period
- Late Intermediate to Late Horizon (c.1000-1532 CE)
- Culture
- Andean Late Intermediate-Late Horizon (Wari–Inca)
- Builders
- Andean Late Intermediate-Late Horizon (Wari–Inca) community builders
- Purpose
- Andean highland fortressed village and storage (colca) centre
- Abandoned
- c.1300 CE
- Rediscovered
- Surveyed and excavated (regional project)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1100
Foundation and early occupation
c.1200 BCE
Peak fortified horizon
1990
Modern excavation and publication
On the ground
Structures & features
8.5500° S · 77.8500° W · 3650 m · 3 mapped features
Hillfort wall and colca storage
fortificationDouble-faced wall with colca storage pits
8.5499° S · 77.8499° WChullpa tombs
tombChullpa above-ground burial towers
8.5497° S · 77.8498° WWari-Inca ceramics
ceramic horizonWari and Inca polychrome sherds
8.5495° S · 77.8497° W