Pucará de Turi

The Pucará de Turi an archaeological site in the locality of Turi, which is part of Calama, in the Antofagasta Region, Chile.^[1][2][3] It is located 47 km northeast of the town of San Francisco de Chiu Chiu.

Pucará de Turi

Type	Monumento histórico

It is listed as a National Monument of Chile since 1983.^[2][4]

History

A view of the Pucará de Turi.

This pukara — Quechuan word meaning fortress or fortified hill—^[3] is a Pre-Columbian stone construction located in the area of Turi. The fortified hamlet is located at an elevation of 3,100 m above sea level and occupies a surface area of approximately 4 ha.^[2] It is the largest architectural complex built by the Atacama people.^[2]

The construction dates back to c. 1250; while in the early 15th century, the Inca Topa Inca Yupanqui conquered the territory of the Atacama people, and approximately AD 1470, the citadel-like structure underwent a series of alterations by the addition of Incan structures,^[5][6] including a Kallanka, a 26 metres (85 ft) long building covered with a gable roof.^[7] The area included houses with rectangular plan measuring 4 m by 5 m.^[8] The complex features about 620 enclosed areas of various sizes and shapes.^[2]