The Wari or Huari archaeological complex is located in the district of Quinua, within the province of Huamanga, in the department and region of Ayacucho. The site is located at 2,750 meters above sea level and occupies an area of approximately 2,200 hectares. The Wari Archaeological Complex belongs to the culture of the same name that would have had its settlement in the area between 550 and 800 AD. C. and its location would respond to strategic purposes, since it is in the center between the North and South Sierra and because it also has quick access to both the Coast and the Jungle.
The Wari Archaeological Complex would have been an urban center at the time, as well as the capital of their State. It is believed that an average of 40,000 people would have been housed in its Complex.
The Wari or Huari archaeological complex is located in the district of Quinua, within the province of Huamanga, in the department and region of Ayacucho. The site is located at 2,750 meters above sea level and occupies an area of approximately 2,200 hectares. In addition, it belongs to the culture of the same name that would have had its settlement in the area between 550 and 800 AD. C. and its location would respond to strategic purposes, since it is in the center between the North and South Sierra and because it also has quick access to both the Coast and the Jungle.
The Wari Archaeological Complex would have been an urban center at the time, as well as the capital of their State. It is believed that it would have housed an average of 40,000 people. It presents internal divisions, which are given according to the functions for which they were built. One of the main sectors of Wari is called Cheqowasi or Cheqo Wasi, for funerary purposes, and the other important sector is called Moradochayoq.
The Wari citadel is made up of different neighborhoods, in which you can see different residential areas. Wari constructions are made of stone and these are joined with mud mortar. These walls are both plastered in shades of red and white. The walls of Wari have an approximate thickness of three meters and reach an average height of 12 meters. The cause of the thickness and height of these buildings would have their sustenance in the war strategy of this town, since the structures they used made it difficult for the enemy to quickly access.
This complex presents internal divisions, which are given according to the functions for which they were built. One of the main sectors of Wari is called Cheqowasi or Cheqo Wasi, for funerary purposes, and the other important sector is called Moradochayoq.
Cheqo Wasi, whose name means "Stone House", is a sector in which underground works were found, especially chambers, along with tombs. Cheqo wasi is surrounded by a circular structure, in the center of which are smaller rooms. The tombs in this sector would have been built especially for the Wari nobility and their rulers, and among the main shapes of the plates used for these spaces, the circular, rectangular and quadrangular ones stand out.
Moradochayoq, according to studies, seems to be one of the first buildings built for this complex and, like the previous sector, also has underground buildings in the form of galleries. Along with these two best-known spaces in the complex, we can also find: Pata Chapel where monumental trapezoidal and rectangular constructions stand out and reach a length of 400 meters; Another area of this complex responds to the name of Ushoaqoto and according to the evidence found in it, this sector would have served to house enclosures destined to be warehouses and workshops since a number of modeled anthropomorphic figures have been found in it.
In order for the visitor to access the Wari Archaeological Complex, they must travel to the north of the city of Ayacucho, for a determined period of thirty minutes. The entrance to the Complex is upon payment of the ticket, which costs s/3.00 for adults, s/1.00 for Peruvian students and s/0.50 for schoolchildren. Whoever visits this Wari Citadel will be able to access the museum of the site where the Wari archaeological remains found during the excavations are protected.
It is necessary to understand the magnificence of the city of Wari, also called Huari, following the explanations of the guides. The museum is magnificently laid out, with all the explanations and diagrams of the city.
This part of the citadel is underground and was dedicated to burial chambers. Unfortunately, none of the graves have been found intact.
The great discovery of turquoise remains in this area makes researchers think that it was an area dedicated to the manufacture of ornaments. Necklaces and sculptures have been found.
There are 16 stone petroglyphs. Small grooves were carved on flat stone surfaces, which were then polished. There are geometric figures, circles, scrolls and snakes.
A cavity ten meters deep and eleven meters in diameter, with two tunnels.
The complex is located north of Ayacucho, along the highway that connects the city with the town of Quinua and the Sanctuary of the Battle of Ayacucho. You can hire a tour around the Plaza de Armas, or go on your own.
The buses to Quinua leave from José Santos Chocano street. From there the bus takes about half an hour to reach the entrance of the archaeological site. The ticket can range between six and ten soles, depending on whether it is a weekday, or if it is a holiday. For the return, you have to wait for combis or groups that come with seats available and go to Ayacucho.
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