QENQO

We are still in the archaeological National Park of Sacsayhuaman. This site was declared
a Cultural Heritage (Patrimonio Cultural) of the Cusco Region by the National Institute of
Culture.
It is one of the largest huacas (a holy place or sacred object) in the Cusco Region. Many
huacas were based on naturally occurring rock formation. Although it is not its original
name, in the language of Quechua, Qenqo means labyrinth or zig-zag and the temple is
named for the crooked canal cut out of its rock.
These are not precisely ruins, for Qenqo is one of the finest examples of that Inca
hallmark – the great rock carved in (situ) the original position.
It is an eroded limestone outcrop, riddled with fissures, all artfully carved to utilize the
rock's natural shape.
The purpose of Qenqo is unknown, but one common theory stands -- it is believed to be
a holy place where death rituals took place. It is also clear that the canals over it were
used to carry liquid that could have been corn beer, holy water, or even human or
animal blood. The liquid may have been used for sacrifices or as a process in death
rituals or as a way for religious leaders to determine whether the dead lived a good life
by the direction of the liquid flowed. The canal then leads to an underground chamber,
that is aptly called the Chamber of Sacrifices.
This part, which is thought to be an amphitheater (an open circular or oval building with
a central space surrounded by tiers of seats for spectators, for the presentation of
dramatic or sporting events) is formed in a semicircular shape with 19 trapezoidal
niches along the wall. It is believed to be a seating area for ceremonies and rituals.
Recent theories suggest that it was once part of a base of a large wall, where some idols
were displayed for worship, but this is only a hypothesis.
This rock was perhaps a phallic symbol or a sitting Puma, its original form was
obliterated by the conquerors and was evidently a focus of some religious cult.
Inside its caves, we find large niches and what looks like an impressive altar, where in
the eighties archaeologists found alpacas’ bones, clear evidence of some rituals,
perhaps being grateful for a good rainy season, or to apologize for droughts.
This stone altar was carved in this cave using stony-iron meteorite (jiwaya), and in this
trapezoidal niche set an important mummy or deity. As we can see, everything was
carefully carved such as the floor, the ceiling, and walls.
This must be the most impressive alter we have in all the archaeological parks we will
visit. We do not know why this altar was not destroyed like the others if it was a pagan
altar. To cover up this place (temple), the whole area was completely covered with soil.
In fact, conquistadors wanted to hide this temple, for that reason the Viceroy Francisco
Toledo decided to erase this place from the map, ordering to cover this temple with
tons and tons of soil. This altar was a worship place for making offerings with sacred
corn, coca leaves, some gold and silver artwork, and probably a mummification spot.
Early chroniclers mention caves around the city where the mummies of lesser royalty
were kept in niches along with gold and precious objects. This was almost certainly one
of them.

PUKAPUKARA-THE RED FORTRESS

We are in Pukapukara or the red fortress. It is not really clear what was this complex,
archaeologists think that for the evidence they found different kinds of artifacts such as
ceramics, pottery, etc. Pukapukara was a fortress, a checkpoint or probably it was Qolqa
(food storage). It also has a precise alignment with a shrine that is located in a Water
Temple (Tambomachay) and marked the way to go to the jungle by an Inca road system
(Qapac Ñan). As a fortress had a strategic location to see any enemy who decided to
attack the Incas. As a checkpoint could take control of the products that went and came
from the jungle as corn, dry potato, yucca, feathers, etc. As a Qolqa (food storage) could
store the products that Incas grew in this area such as potatoes, corn, and quinoa really
famous in the world now.
On the other hand, the Inca road system was the most extensive and advanced
transportation system in South America in the 15th century. The network was based on
two north-south roads with numerous branches. Also, the Inca road system linked
together about 40 000 kilometers (25 000 mi) of the roadway.
Historians found two interesting descriptions about this place. The first one wrote by
the secretary of Pizarro who said “I saw the bones of a whale's bones around here”, but
he didn´t give more details. On the other hand, there is a piece of unique information
written by Guaman Poma de Ayala an indigenous chronicler who gave more details
about it, he wrote: “In the town called Yuncaypata there was a shrine where Incas
showed a Totem, the bones of a whale which were brought by the order of the 11th
Inca King