Kuntur Wasi (

Quechua Quechua may refer to: *Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru *Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language **So ...

''kuntur''

condor Condor is the common name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. The name derives from the Quechua ''kuntur''. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere. They are: * The Andean condor (''Vu ...

, ''wasi'' house, "condor house") is the name given to the ruins of a religious center with complex architecture and stone sculptures, located in the Andean highlands of

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

. It is believed the inhabitants had a link with the Chavín culture. Kuntur Wasi is located in the Northern Mountain Range of Peru, specifically at the headwaters of the Jequetepeque River, in the region of the city of

Cajamarca Cajamarca (), also known by the Quechua name, ''Kashamarka'', is the capital and largest city of the Cajamarca Region as well as an important cultural and commercial center in the northern Andes. It is located in the northern highlands of Peru ...

near the small town of San Pablo. The Jequetepeque valley provided a transportation corridor between the coastal region and the highlands. Kuntur Wasi was a center where people congregated. It is thought to have been constructed around 1000-700 BCE, during the Initial Period. The architecture consists of a hill-top temple, quadrangular platforms, a sunken courtyard, and series of rooms. In the floor of one room there is an anthropomorphic figure made of clay, about 30 inches (75 cm) in height. It is painted with cinnabar red, malachite green, and black, yellow, and pink. Its face has big square eyes and a wide mouth with prominent canine teeth. There are also stepped platforms and funeral structures. Lithosculptures have been found, carved with serpent and feline designs that are similar to the Chavín style. Those to be found at the site are reproductions, with the originals having been moved to museums. The area of Kuntur Wasi was occupied between the years 1200-50 BC. It was first discovered in 1945 by

Julio C. Tello Julio César Tello (April 11, 1880 – June 3, 1947) was a Peruvian Archaeology, archaeologist. Tello is considered the "father of Peruvian archeology" and was the first indigenous people of the Americas, indigenous archaeologist in South America ...

. In 1989, scientists from the

University of Tokyo , abbreviated as or UTokyo, is a public research university located in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1877, the university was the first Imperial University and is currently a Top Type university of the Top Global University Project by ...

excavated four tombs at Kuntur Wasi. Valuable items, such as pectoral necklaces (decorative breastplates), gold crowns, ornamental stone beads, earrings, sets of dishes and iconographies of people were discovered in the burial area. Since the beginning of the University of Tokyo's archaeological mission, eight tombs have been found in the area.Von Hagen, Adriana & Craig Morris. ''The Cities of the Ancient Andes''. 1998: Thames and Hudson. The Kuntur Wasi Museum, managed by local citizens, opened in 1994.

Gallery

File:Krone kuntur wasi.JPG, 'The crown of the fourteen faces' of one of the excavated tombs of Kuntur Wasi. It was part of the funerary equipment of the ruling elite File:Relief kuntur wasi.JPG, Chavinoid relief of Kuntur Wasi, note the tusks and face tabby typical of Chavín art File:Kunturwasi Monolito lou.jpg, Monolith Chavín on a platform of Kuntur Wasi

References

External links

{{Commons category, Kuntur Wasi
Official Website (English, Spanish, Japanese)
Archaeological sites in Peru Archaeological sites in Cajamarca Region Chavin culture Cupisnique culture Tourist attractions in Cajamarca Region

Gallery

See also

References

External links