Vilcashuamán or Vilcasguaman (from

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 ...

Willka Waman, "sacred hawk") is the capital of Vilcas Huamán Province, Ayacucho region,

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

. It is located at an altitude of 3,490 m on the eastern slopes of the Andes. It is located on an ancient archaeological site. Vilcashuamán was an Inca administrative center, established after the Incas conquered the Chancas and the

Pocras Pocras (called ''Pacora'' and ''Pocora'' in colonial documentation) were the ancient Wari culture ( es, Huari) inhabitants of the modern-day city of Huamanga, Peru before the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, bounded on the northwest by the Wari ...

. According to the Chronicler

Pedro Cieza de León Pedro Cieza de León ( Llerena, Spain c. 1520 – Seville, Spain July 2, 1554) was a Spanish conquistador and chronicler of Peru and Popayán. He is known primarily for his history and description of Peru, ''Crónicas del Perú''. He wrote this ...

, Vilcashuamán was home to 40,000 people.Cieza de León, Pedro (2005

553 __NOTOC__ Year 553 ( DLIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 553 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar er ...

. Crónica del Perú - El señorío de los Incas - edited by Franklin Pease G.Y. - Fundación Biblioteca Ayacucho - Caracas - Venezuela The city was located around a large plaza where ceremonies involving sacrifices were performed, usually camelids or

libation A libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid, or grains such as rice, as an offering to a deity or spirit, or in memory of the dead. It was common in many religions of antiquity and continues to be offered in cultures today. Various substanc ...

of corn wine. Around this plaza were the city's two most important buildings: the Sun Temple (Templo del Sol) and the

Ushnu An ushnu or usnu is a pyramid-shaped, terraced structure that was used by the Inca to preside at the most important ceremonies of the ''Tawantinsuyu,'' or Inca Empire. Name Little is known of the Quechua root of the term ''ushnu'', but it see ...

which remain to this day. It is believed that the city had the shape of a falcon, in which the Ushnu was located in the head. The Ushnu is a truncated pyramid which is accessed through a double doorjamb, characteristic of the most important compounds. In its upper platform is a large stone with unique carvings that is known as the Seat of the Inca (Asiento del Inca); this seat, according to Cieza de León, was once covered with gold leaf.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vilcashuaman Populated places in the Ayacucho Region Temples of Inti Archaeological sites in Peru Inca Empire Archaeological sites in Ayacucho Region