This important site belonged to the Wari culture, considered the first great expansive civilization of the Andes before the Inca Empire. It would have settled in the area between the years 550 and 800 A.D., although its influence extended until approximately the 11th century. The complex was a huge urban, political, administrative, and religious center, which articulated power networks in a large part of the current Peruvian territory.
Research indicates that in its time of greatest splendor it could have housed about 40,000 people, making it one of the most important pre-Inca settlements in Peru. The Wari State also distinguished itself by having developed a system of road networks that would later be inherited and perfected by the Incas. For this reason, many historians consider the Wari culture as a direct predecessor of the Inca Empire.
The Wari or Huari archaeological complex is located in the district of Quinua, within the province of Huamanga, in the department and region of Ayacucho. The site is located at 2,750 meters above sea level and occupies an area of approximately 2,200 hectares. In addition, it belongs to the culture of the same name that would have had its settlement in the area between 550 and 800 AD. C. and its location would respond to strategic purposes, since it is in the center between the North and South Sierra and because it also has quick access to both the Coast and the Jungle.
The Wari Archaeological Complex was the capital of the Wari State and one of the most important urban centers of its time. It is estimated to have housed around 40,000 inhabitants, organized in neighborhoods and sectors with specific functions.
The Wari Archaeological Complex, located in Ayacucho, represents the most complex manifestation of pre-Hispanic Andean urbanism. It is considered the first city of the Andes and the only example of a great secular capital in ancient Peru. Its growth was the result of a gradual process, which began in a village period and evolved into an organized urban system. During its development, the Wari State directed important restoration and remodeling works.
A striking feature of the city was that most of its buildings were covered with white plaster, which made the city shine under the sunlight. The design of its neighborhoods, funerary sectors, administrative centers, and productive zones reflects an advanced planning, which laid the foundations for later urban models in the Andes.
Towards 1000 A.D., the Wari culture began to decline. Although the exact reasons for its abandonment are still uncertain, it is known that agricultural yield problems were a key factor. To counteract them, the Wari carried out notable works of channeling, drainage, and construction of agricultural terraces, thus increasing the cultivable area. However, these efforts were not enough to sustain the population density and power of the city.
The complex preserves notable remains that allow us to understand the social, political, and religious organization of this civilization:
The Wari Archaeological Complex is not only a testament to the power and urban planning of one of the most influential cultures of pre-Hispanic Peru, but also a window to understanding how life was organized in the first great city of the Andes.
The Wari constructions were built of stone joined with mud mortar, and their walls were plastered with red and white colors. These walls stand out for their solidity: they reach three meters thick and an average height of 12 meters, which suggests that the architecture also served as a defensive strategy, making it difficult for potential enemies to access.
Cheqowasi (or Cheqo Wasi)
Its name means "Stone House". This sector had a funerary character and stands out for its underground chambers and tombs, surrounded by a circular structure with smaller enclosures in the center. The tombs, reserved for the Wari nobility and rulers, have various shapes in the plates used: circular, rectangular, and quadrangular.
Moradochayoq
Considered one of the first buildings of the complex, this sector also has underground structures in the form of galleries. Its age and architectural features make it a key space to understand the evolution of Wari urbanism.
In order for the visitor to access the Wari Archaeological Complex, they must travel to the north of the city of Ayacucho, for a determined period of thirty minutes. The entrance to the Complex is upon payment of the ticket, which costs s/3.00 for adults, s/1.00 for Peruvian students and s/0.50 for schoolchildren. Whoever visits this Wari Citadel will be able to access the museum of the site where the Wari archaeological remains found during the excavations are protected.
The complex is located north of Ayacucho, along the highway that connects the city with the town of Quinua and the Sanctuary of the Battle of Ayacucho. You can hire a tour around the Plaza de Armas, or go on your own.
The buses to Quinua leave from José Santos Chocano street. From there the bus takes about half an hour to reach the entrance of the archaeological site. The ticket can range between six and ten soles, depending on whether it is a weekday, or if it is a holiday. For the return, you have to wait for combis or groups that come with seats available and go to Ayacucho.
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