We'll pick you up at your accommodation to start the journey to the Kuntur Wasi Archaeological Complex, located on the “La Copa” hill in the province of San Pablo, 93 km from the city of Cajamarca. The name Kuntur Wasi (Temple or House of the Condor) was given by the Peruvian archaeologist Julio C. Tello in 1946.
After a 1 hour and 45 minute journey, we'll arrive at the archaeological complex and start the tour, observing the depictions of condors that can be seen in the stone sculptures found at the site. It covers an area of approximately 800 by 500 metres.
We'll also see six stone sculptures depicting human beings with feline attributes that were discovered in 1948, as well as a cemetery on the slopes of the hill where high-status individuals were likely buried.
We'll then visit the Site Museum, where we'll see the gold objects found at the site.
Did you know that a Japanese mission led by Yoshio Onuki has carried out the most important work here since 1988? In 1993, seven burials of high-ranking individuals were discovered. They are believed to have been made before the central platform of the Kuntur Wasi phase was built. Dr. Yoshio Onuki suggests that the tombs correspond to the reburial of people who died on the coast.
In addition to the six monoliths found in the 1940s, three more were discovered by the Japanese team. The statues represent supernatural beings: feline-men wearing a loincloth held in place by a cord.
The metal samples unearthed by Yoshio Onuki (1995) have been attributed to the Kuntur Wasi phase. The pieces bear similarities to those from the archaeological site of Chongoyape (Chiclayo), with both samples being the oldest examples of Peruvian metallurgy. The techniques used were essentially limited to rolling the raw material and embossing. The thin gold sheets were bent until the desired sculptural figure was achieved, and then the edges of the sheets were soldered using techniques such as amalgams.
After the visit to Kuntur Wasi, we will return to Cajamarca. On the way, we will stop in the town of San Pablo for lunch (at the passenger's expense).
Approximately 5:00 p.m.: Arrival in Cajamarca and return to accommodation.