Inkallaqta (

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 ...

''inka''

Inca The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, ( Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The adm ...

, ''llaqta'' place (village, town, city, country, nation), "Inca place", Hispanicized spellings ''Incallacta, Incallajta, Incallakta, Inkallajta, Inkallakta'') is a monumental

site in central

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

. It is located in the

Cochabamba Department Cochabamba ( ay, Quchapampa Jach'a Suyu, es, Departamento de Cochabamba , qu, Quchapampa Suyu), from Quechua ''qucha'' or ''qhucha'', meaning "lake", ''pampa'' meaning "plain", is one of the nine departments of Bolivia. It is known to be the ...

Carrasco Province Carrasco is a province in the Cochabamba Department in central Bolivia. Its capital is Totora. Geography Some of the highest mountains of the province are listed below: Subdivision Carrasco Province is divided into six municipalities whic ...

, Pocona Municipality, approximately 130 kilometers east of

Cochabamba Cochabamba ( ay, Quchapampa; qu, Quchapampa) is a city and municipality in central Bolivia in a valley in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and the fourth largest city in Bolivia, with a population of 630 ...

. It was most recently excavated by

Larry Coben Lawrence S. "Larry" Coben (born 1958) is an archaeologist who founded the ESCALA Initiative and the Sustainable Preservation Initiative. He serves as Chairman of the Board of NRG Energy, the Fortune 200 integrated electricity company. Archaeolo ...

. He believes that the site was used to perform rites for the ceremonial calendar. The site has several important structures such as the Kallanka. It was the largest single roofed room in the western hemisphere when it was built, and measures 78 by 25 meters. There's also an ushnu or a ritual platform on the site. The Torreon of Inkallaqta is also located on this site. Located at the western side of the site this six sided structure supposedly had calendrical or astronomical significance. There is a zigzag wall immediately north of the site which is meant to mark and protect it.

World Heritage Status

This site was added to the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...

World Heritage A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

Tentative List on July 1, 2003 in the Cultural category.

Opera

There is also an opera called "Incallajta" in honor of these ruins. The libretto was written by Norma Méndez de Paz, the music composed by Atiliano Auza León. It is the first Bolivian opera. The premiere was in La Paz, Bolivia in 1980. It will have its reinstatement in September 2010, in Cochabamba, in honor to the Bicentenary of this city. Gastón Paz Zegarra, recognized Bolivian baritone represented the role of Sovereign Inca, role that will repeat in the new version of this opera.

Sources

External links

Proyecto Inkallakta

Incallajta, the largest Inca site in the Kollasuyo - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Retrieved 2009-03-23. Archaeological sites in Bolivia Former populated places in Bolivia Buildings and structures in Cochabamba Department Inca {{SouthAm-archaeology-stub