Qillqatani facts for kids
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Qillqatani
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 Location in Peru
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| Alternative name | Qelqatani |
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| Location | Peru, Puno Region |
| Region | Lake Titicaca basin |
| Coordinates | 16°56′58″S 69°53′22″W / 16.94944°S 69.88944°W |
| Altitude | 4,420 m (14,501 ft) |
| Area | 200 m2 (2,153 sq ft) |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 7500 BP |
| Abandoned | 1472 AD |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Mark Aldenderfer |
Qillqatani (pronounced Keel-kah-TAH-nee) is an amazing ancient place in Peru, South America. Its name comes from the Aymara language and means "the one with something written." This special site is famous for its beautiful rock art. It sits high up in the mountains, about 4,420 meters (14,500 feet) above sea level.
Qillqatani is found above the Chila River, in the Puno Region of Peru. It is surrounded by a dry, grassy area called puna. The site has been declared a National Cultural Heritage of Peru. This means it is a very important historical place that needs to be protected.
Discovering Qillqatani's Past
Qillqatani is the first ancient site in the Lake Titicaca area to be studied very carefully by archaeologists. Archaeologists are like history detectives who dig up and study old things. They have found 36 different layers of history at Qillqatani. Each layer tells a story about how people lived there long ago.
Who Lived at Qillqatani?
For a very long time, from about 7,500 to 4,000 years ago, Qillqatani was a temporary home for hunter-gatherers. These people moved around, hunting animals and collecting plants for food. They mostly hunted camelids (like llamas and alpacas) and some deer. They used Qillqatani as a seasonal campsite, meaning they stayed there only during certain times of the year.
Around 3,660 years ago, things changed. People started living at Qillqatani for longer periods. These new residents were pastoralists, which means they herded camelids. They built houses and settled down. These herders also began trading with people from lower areas. They traded to get a plant called Chenopodium, which was an important food source.
See also
In Spanish: Qelqatani para niños
- Jiskairumoko
- Soro Mik'aya Patjxa
