Gran Vilaya facts for kids
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| Location |  PeruLuya Province, Amazonas |
|---|---|
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Periods | Middle Horizon - Late Intermediate |
| Cultures | Chachapoya |
Gran Vilaya is a huge area in northern Peru with many ancient ruins and buildings. It's like a giant puzzle of old settlements spread across the Utcubamba Valley.
Contents
What is Gran Vilaya?
Gran Vilaya is not just one site. It's a group of many archaeological places. These sites include old towns and buildings. They are found over a large part of the Utcubamba Valley.
This whole area dates back to the Chachapoya culture. The Chachapoya lived here before the Inca Empire.
Who Discovered Gran Vilaya?
An American explorer named Gene Savoy found and named this complex in 1985. He helped bring attention to these amazing ancient places.
Gran Vilaya is located west of the famous Kuelap fortress. It has many important population centers. Some of these are called the Stairs, the Pirquilla, Cacahuasha, Mortar, the Bishop, Paxamarca, Lanche, and the Secret.
There are between 15 and 30 main sites in Gran Vilaya. Plus, there are hundreds of smaller sites too.
What Do the Buildings Look Like?
Experts believe there are about 5,000 buildings in the Gran Vilaya area. Some of these buildings are round. Others are shaped like rectangles.
All the buildings were made from local limestone. Many walls have cool geometrical shapes carved into them. These shapes often show humans or animals.
You can see images of snakes, condors, or pumas. Snakes are shown with zig-zag patterns. Pumas (also called cougars) are often shown with diamond shapes that look like their eyes.
Visiting Gran Vilaya
If you love adventure, you can visit Gran Vilaya! Several travel companies offer trips to this area. You can trek through the mountains on foot or on horseback.
Many of these trips end at the famous Kuelap fortress. It's a great way to explore ancient history and beautiful nature.
See also
In Spanish: Gran Vilaya para niños
