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Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
A main archaeological attraction in the Lake Titicaca area is the burial site of Sillustani, which is about a 40-minute drive from Puno. These huge tombs are set on a hill above Lake Umayo and were used as graves for Colla nobility.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Lake Titicaca, is undeniably an impressive sight. A National Reserve since 1978, it has over sixty varieties of birds, fourteen species of native fish and eighteen types of amphibians. At 3820m (12,530ft), is the highest navigable lake in the world. At over 170km (105mi) long, it is also the largest lake in South America. Its altitude means the air is unusually clear and the azure waters particularly striking. Interesting boat trips to outlying islands can be made from Puno, the major port on the lake. The area is also known for its folk dances and huge herds of alpacas and llamas.
Curious Inca-built Chullpa burial tombs circle the lake and man-made Uros Floating Islands are fascinating. These islands have been inhabited for centuries since their construction by retreating Uros Indians. More powerful and self-determined are the communities who live on the fixed islands of Taquile and Amantani, often described as the closest one can get to heaven by the few travelers who make it out this far into the lake. There are in fact more than seventy islands in the lake, the largest and most sacred being the Island of the Sun which is at the Bolivian side of the Lake.
A 34 kilómetros de Puno están ubicadas las chullpas de Sillustani, en la Península que se introduce en las brillantes y azules aguas de la Laguna de Umayo a 4000 msnm. Esta asombrosa laguna, la cual cuenta con una profundidad de aproximadamente 14 metros, está conectada por los ríos Chaullamayo al suroeste y Ccaccapunco al norte, y se comunica a través del río Illpa con el Lago Titicaca.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
A main archaeological attraction in the Lake Titicaca area is the burial site of Sillustani, which is about a 40-minute drive from Puno. These huge tombs are set on a hill above Lake Umayo and were used as graves for Colla nobility.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
A main archaeological attraction in the Lake Titicaca area is the burial site of Sillustani, which is about a 40-minute drive from Puno. These huge tombs are set on a hill above Lake Umayo and were used as graves for Colla nobility.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
A main archaeological attraction in the Lake Titicaca area is the burial site of Sillustani, which is about a 40-minute drive from Puno. These huge tombs are set on a hill above Lake Umayo and were used as graves for Colla nobility.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
A main archaeological attraction in the Lake Titicaca area is the burial site of Sillustani, which is about a 40-minute drive from Puno. These huge tombs are set on a hill above Lake Umayo and were used as graves for Colla nobility.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
An unfinished Chullpa from the Incan phase of Sillustani, near Lake Titicaca. The handling bosses projecting from the lower faces of the blocks and drafted margins are very similar to masonry techniques developed independently in the ancient Mediterranean.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
A main archaeological attraction in the Lake Titicaca area is the burial site of Sillustani, which is about a 40-minute drive from Puno. These huge tombs are set on a hill above Lake Umayo and were used as graves for Colla nobility.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan burial ground on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno.
Their tombs, (like this one), which are built above ground in tower-like structures called "chullpas", are the vestiges of the Colla people, Aymara who were conquered by the Inca in the 1400s.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
A main archaeological attraction in the Lake Titicaca area is the burial site of Sillustani, which is about a 40-minute drive from Puno. These huge tombs are set on a hill above Lake Umayo and were used as graves for Colla nobility.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
A main archaeological attraction in the Lake Titicaca area is the burial site of Sillustani, which is about a 40-minute drive from Puno. These huge tombs are set on a hill above Lake Umayo and were used as graves for Colla nobility.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Chullpa más alta (12m) del área arqueológica de Sillustani, en la laguna Umayo. Estas grandes tumbas del pueblo colla representaban el útero de una mujer en la que los cadáveres eran depositados en posición fetal.
Tallest chullpa (12m) of the archaeological site of Sillustani, by the Umayo lake. This huge tombs of the colla ethnic group represented the woman's uterus in where the corpses were placed in fetal position.
Incas were master stone masons. The stones in this cylindrical burial tower fit perfectly and use no mortar.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
A main archaeological attraction in the Lake Titicaca area is the burial site of Sillustani, which is about a 40-minute drive from Puno. These huge tombs are set on a hill above Lake Umayo and were used as graves for Colla nobility.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
A main archaeological attraction in the Lake Titicaca area is the burial site of Sillustani, which is about a 40-minute drive from Puno. These huge tombs are set on a hill above Lake Umayo and were used as graves for Colla nobility.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a magical destination, abundant with ancient ruins dating back to the Incas.
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
Afternoon of 25th September 2007, Tuesday
After visiting the floating islands , we chose Sillustani for the afternoon. I hate to miss ancient necropolises ever since Egypt. The way people have been buried often indicates how people lived.
Sillustani is about 30 KMs from Puno and overlooks the very blue Lake Umayo. The burial chambers called chullpas pre-date the Inkas and were built to bury the royals of the Colla tribe. You can see the primitive "stack of rock" chullpas juxtaposed with the immaculately cut, curved and fitted in place airtight masonry. The advance is the skills of the builders is a fascinating site
We were not intending to hire a guide for this site though we were approached by a very eager young student called Ivan. He knew his history well, was very articulate and patiently walked me to every chullpa on the site. He even stood guard at chullpa while I quenched my curiosity by sauntering over a wall. It is amazing how people are always curious to get into somebody else's grave without being in their shoes.
The site has an incomplete chullpa with the neatly measured and laid out stones. The stones carry the plumb lines drawn by a very steady hand all those years ago. The location is almost alive as if the workers have taken a lunch break and will return noisily any moment to continue their art.
As the sun lethargically tilted westwards, we left the empty funerary towers to their solitude, tumbled into the van and headed home.
We saw this mummy in a Chullpa by Colchani at a place called Kakha on the eastern edge of the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. This is a living museum where local people still come to pay tribute to their ancestors which are 3000 years old (according to our guide Jose).
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 140,839.
Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.
The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility. Many of the tombs have been dynamited by grave robbers, while others were left unfinished.