Yalape South Annex
Yalape Annex Leymebamba
Late Intermediate Chachapoya 1100–1470 CE·Chachapoyas·🇵🇪 Amazonas, Chachapoyas Province, Peru
About
About Yalape South Annex
Secondary terraced annex of Yalape fortress-city perched above Utcubamba 15 km south of Chachapoyas town: 40 circular houses with trapezoidal niches on terraces stepping down 60 m vertical, defensive ditch 5 m wide, and adjacent cliff sarcophagi (purunmachus). Extends known Yalape 5 ha core southward; demonstrates Yalape polyfocal expansion before Inca.
Why it mattersDocuments southern growth of Yalape polity beyond previously mapped fort showing Chachapoyas demographic expansion.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether annex was Inca-mitmaq addition after 1470 conquest
- 02Why ditch appended only on south approach
Theories
- 01Yalape suburban annex for surplus population on defensible slope
- 02Inca reapportionment to house mitmaq colonists
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.1100–1470 CE (Late Intermediate Chachapoya)
- Period
- Late Intermediate Chachapoya 1100–1470 CE
- Culture
- Chachapoyas
- Purpose
- Southern annex of Yalape hillfort with terraced circular houses extending 200 m south of main fortified ridge
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1100–1470 CE (Late Intermediate Chachapoya)
Initial construction
1470 CE
Major occupation / refurbishment
On the ground
Structures & features
6.0890° S · 77.8030° W · 2450 m · 2 mapped features
South Annex circular houses
house40 circular houses on terraces stepping south of main Yalape ridge
6.0880° S · 77.8020° WDefensive ditch and sarcophagi cliff
ditch5 m ditch and adjacent cliff with purunmachu sarcophagi
6.0900° S · 77.8040° W