Mawk'allaqta, Castilla facts for kids
 Location in Peru
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| Alternative name | Mawk'a Llaqta |
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| Location | San Antonio, Castilla Province, Arequipa Region, Peru |
| Region | Andes |
| Coordinates | 15°41′07″S 72°37′21″W / 15.68528°S 72.62250°W |
Mawk'allaqta, also known as Mawk'a Llaqta, is an amazing ancient Inca site. Its name comes from the Quechua language. Mawk'a means "ancient," and llaqta means "place," like a village or city. So, Mawk'allaqta means "ancient place."
This special place is an architectural complex. It sits high up in the mountains, above a village called San Antonio. You can find it in the Arequipa Region of Peru. It's about 3,700 meters (over 12,000 feet) above sea level. From there, you can see a beautiful valley nearby. The closest big town is Pampacolca. This town is about 170 kilometers (110 miles) northwest of the city of Arequipa.
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Mawk'allaqta: An Ancient Inca City
Mawk'allaqta was a very important center for the Inca people. It has more than 200 stone buildings. There are also tombs where people were buried. The site also features an ushnu, which is a special platform used for ceremonies. There are three huge ceremonial platforms made of stones and earth.
This site was likely the main administrative and religious center. It was also a place for pilgrimages. People probably traveled here to worship the nearby volcano, Coropuna. This volcano was seen as a powerful oracle, even before the Inca times. Mawk'allaqta is considered the most important Inca site found in Kuntisuyu. This was one of the four main parts of the Inca Empire.
Exploring the Ancient Site
Archaeologists have been studying Mawk'allaqta for many years. The "Condesuyos" archaeological project started in 1996. It is a joint effort between the Center for Pre-Columbian Studies at the University of Warsaw in Poland and the Catholic University of Santa María in Arequipa, Peru.
These experts are looking into the area around the Coropuna volcano. Old writings from the 16th and 17th centuries often mentioned this volcano. It was a very important place for religious worship. Mawk'allaqta is a key part of this larger study.
Visiting Mawk'allaqta
Mawk'allaqta was officially opened to visitors on August 29, 2009. Now, people can come and explore this incredible ancient Inca site. It's a great way to learn about the history and culture of the Inca Empire.
See also
In Spanish: Maucallacta (Pampacolca) para niños
