Tumshukayko is a pre-Inca archeological site near

Caraz Caraz is a town in the Caraz District in the southeastern part of Huaylas Province of the Ancash Region in Peru. Political Creation Recent investigations suggest that its political creation happened on 12 February 1821 when General San Martín, ...

Huaylas Province The Huaylas Province is one of 20 provinces of the Ancash Region in Peru. Geography The Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra traverse the province. Some of the highest peaks of the province are Artesonraju, Chacraraju, Quitaraju, Pucajirca ...

Ancash Region Ancash ( qu, Anqash; es, Áncash ) is a department and region in northern Peru. It is bordered by the departments of La Libertad on the north, Huánuco and Pasco on the east, Lima on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Its capital i ...

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 recently discovered and still under research. Its main structures are found on the right bank of Llullan river, West flank of the

Cordillera Blanca The Cordillera Blanca (Spanish for "white range") is a mountain range in Peru that is part of the larger Andes range and extends for between 8°08' and 9°58'S and 77°00' and 77°52'W, in a northwesterly direction. It includes several peaks ove ...

, 1 km north from the city of Caraz, at an elevation of 2300m above sea level. Recent investigations propose the site belongs to the Late Pre Ceramic (around 2000 BCE), even when upper sediments shows evidences of a later occupations (Mid Early Huaylas Culture), around 300 BCE - 300 CE. The fine stone works forms a circular structure, consisting on platforms, terraces and stairways. The most outstanding product from this culture are the stone head (cabezas clavas) and triangular stones, which clearly tells about an early Chavin civilization. The earliest structures were built, accordingly with chronology, between La Galgada (3,000 - 2,000 b.C) and Chavin (1,200 - 300 BC). The artistic production recalls a lot of those found at the Moxeke complex, on

Casma Valley The Casma River, which upstream is called Río Grande, is a river that crosses northern Casma province in the Ancash Region of Peru. It originates in the Black Mountain Range and drains into the Pacific Ocean. Major tributaries include the Sech� ...

. Around 1873, the Italian explorer

Antonio Raimondi Antonio Raimondi (September 19, 1826 – October 26, 1890) was a prominent Italian-born Peruvian geographer and scientist. Born in Milan, Raimondi emigrated to Peru, arriving on July 28, 1850, at the port of Callao. In 1851 he became a prof ...

described the place as a "hill", partially destroyed, built with huge stone walls. In 1919, Dr.

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 ...

confirms this description by writing that the structure includes platforms and terraces forming inside aisles and stairways. By 1990 some work was performed, removing debris and waste.

Importance

Accordingly, with the general outline of the buildings, it seems to be a huge monumental center.

Etymology

Tumshu = Core, center, Kayko = We are. So we could say the meaning is: "We are the Center"

Site description

The Tumshukayko culture was set 1 km north from the present-day city of Caraz, and seemed to be a center for those people living in the surrounding areas. The monument is a massive flat-topped circular structure, surrounded by lower semi-circular walls, separated from each other about 2,40m, and this empty space was filled with loose rocks and earth. The outside walls are decorated with geometrical sculptures and carvings. The structure extends approximately 300m in diameter and 25m in elevation.

References

* Boletin Museo de Arqueologia y Antropologia Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. , 2005; 6 (1) : 19-26 {{coord, 9.03784, S, 77.81467, W, source:wikidata, display=title Archaeological sites in Peru Archaeological sites in Ancash Region