Tambo Viejo
Tambo Viejo is an archaeological site in southern Peru, about 44 hectares in the Acari Valley, north of the Arequipa region and near the town of Acarí. It shows human occupation from the Early Intermediate period, including Early Nasca pottery, through the Inca era and up to the Spanish colonial period. It was one of several Inca administrative centers along the coast connected by the Inca Trail.
The site runs north to south. The main northern area has a large Plaza Principal (Plaza 1). From its southwest corner, a stretch of the Inca Trail leads toward Paredones, suggesting this was the entry to the site. The southern part has a maze of buildings around a smaller plaza (Plaza 2). A large artificial platform to the south dominates the site and once held wood columns that may have supported a roof. A smaller platform lies to the north of Plaza 2, and east of the plaza there are buildings on a mound. Plaza 2 seems sheltered and not visible from the Inca Trail.
The walls are built with two rows of boulders and mortar, with plaster on the outside and rectangular adobe bricks inside. Many bricks have collapsed, and the design lacks typical Inca window and door shapes, suggesting local builders with their own style.
Recent digs uncovered four naturally mummified llamas and another llama in a later state of decay under the main square. They wore ornaments like earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, and there were about 100 guinea pigs buried with similar adornments. The graves were marked with tropical bird feathers. A dog was also found buried to the east. Near Plaza 2, archaeologists found items related to pichqa, a Quechua game using a five-faced die, and clay ovens used for communal meals, showing how people socialized at this center.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 00:03 (CET).