INCALLAJTA (INKALLAJTA, INCALLACTA, INKALLAKTA), BOLIVIA

I was the director of Proyecto Inkallakta, a multidisciplinary archaeological project of the University of Pennsylvania and the el Museo Arqueologico de la Universidad Mayor de San Simon at the monumental Inka site of that name in central Bolivia (left). I believe the site is a replica of the Inka capital of Cuzco, designed to evoke that city and for the performance of the rites of the elaborate and detailed Inka ceremonial calendar. The site is well known for several important structures, such as the kallanka below.

The kallanka (left) was excavated in 2001. The largest single roofed room in the Western Hemisphere when it was built around 1500, it measures 78 by 25 meters. The far wall today stands over 40 feet high, and would have been significantly higher when originally constructed. The roof rested upon   24 enormous columns, whose bases had two meter diameters.

An ushnu or ritual platform (left), immediately outside the kallanka's center door. The platform is in the shape of an inverted step pyramid, with the rock located in its center. A speaker standing on the rock could have been seen anywhere in the giant plaza in front of the kallanka.

 The Torreon of Inkallakta (left). Located at the western end of the site, this crenellated, six-faced structure has been said to have calendrical or astronomical significance. My research calls these beliefs into question.

This zigzag wall (left) on a hill immediately north of Inkallakta's monumental core, reminiscent of Sacsayhuaman in Cuzco, marks and protects one of the two major entrances to the site. A picture of this entrance is below. 

The entrance is baffled, requiring indirect access. Note the large vertical stone slabs.   

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CARABAYA, PERU

The Carabaya Project consisted of reconaissance throughout the region of that name in Peru, with a focus on the Ollachea River Valley. We found evidence of both a substantial pre-Inka and Inka presence in the valley. To the left, my co-directors Charles Stanish and Pepe Nunez examine a Late Intermediate Period (pre-Inka) chullpa, or burial tower.  

The site of Illincaya (right), on a point high above the Ollachea river. A series of Inka style ritual platforms was superimposed on an originally pre-Inka settlement. This pattern of super-position was utilized as a strategy of imperial control throughout the Ollachea valley, which was likely a primary route from the Inka capital of Cuzco to their gold mines. Gold was the sacred metal of the empire. For more pictures of the Carabaya project cliick more Carabaya.

Thanks to the I.N.C., Rolando Paredes and Edmunod de la Vega for their assistance with this project.

Some interesting links include Social Science Lab, Charles Stanish's Research and the Inca Archaeology Blog