Pukara

This article is about the fortresses in the Andean region in South America. For other uses, see Pukara (disambiguation).

Part of the complex Pukará de Quitor as seen from the inside

Ruins of the Pucará de Tilcara, Argentina

Pukara (Aymara and Quechuan "fortress", hispanicized spellings pucara, pucará) is a ruin of the fortifications made by the natives of the central Andean cultures (that is to say: from Ecuador to Central Chile and the Argentine Northwest) and particularly to those of the Inca Empire. The Spanish also referred to Mapuche earthen forts in the Arauco War by this term.

Furthermore, one of the most refined branches of the Chavín culture is sometimes referred to as "Pukara culture" or "Pukara style". It seems to have been a foundation of the later Wari Empire and Tiwanaku culture.

Today, the term is commonly found in toponyms of the Andes region, like for the pukaras of Andalicán, Pucará de Angol, Camiña, Cañete, Nama, Quiapo, Tilcara, Turi, Pucara del Cerro La Muralla, Pukara of La Compañía, Pukara de Lasana, Pukará de Quitor and Puka Pukara.

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/31/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.