Llactapata (Choquequirao Satellite)
Llactapata Inca Hamlet · Patallacta Choquequirao
Late Horizon 1450–1536 CE·Inca·🇵🇪 Cusco, La Convención District, Peru
About
About Llactapata (Choquequirao Satellite)
Quechua sun temple and agricultural terraces 5 km above Choquequirao visual line: sun door aligned to solstice sunrise over Choquequirao's usnu, 200 m long terrace set with colcas and kallanka, beetle house for Choquequirao. Recent Thompson-Ziegler LiDAR links Choquequirao–Machu Picchu corridor as Inca royal estate network. Spanish destroyed, rediscovered Gary Ziegler 2003, solar observatory function like Qenqo.
Why it mattersOnly documented inter-site solar alignment in Inca realm; proves Choquequirao estate hierarchy.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Was Llactapata supply house vs shrine
- 02Door orientation precision method
Theories
- 01Pair marks Vilcabamba estate chain
- 02Observatory controls Choquequirao planting calendar
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1450–1500 CE
- Period
- Late Horizon 1450–1536 CE
- Culture
- Inca
- Purpose
- Solar observatory and terrace-colca supply station for Choquequirao
- Abandoned
- c.1572 (Vilcabamba fall)
- Rediscovered
- 2003 Gary Ziegler
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1450
Choquequirao and Llactapata built as estate pair
2005
Thompson-Ziegler alignment paper
On the ground
Structures & features
13.3847° S · 72.8847° W · 2840 m · 2 mapped features
Llactapata Sun Door
doorway2 m ashlar doorway framing solstice sunrise over Choquequirao
13.3845° S · 72.8850° WQollqas and terraces
terrace200 m terraces with colcas for Choquequirao supply
13.3850° S · 72.8840° W