Killke culture
Encyclopedia
The Killke culture occupied the South America
n region around Cusco
, Peru
from 900 to 1200 AD, prior to the arrival of the Incas in the 1200s.
Killke culture flourished in highland
Peru
in the Late Intermediate Period
around what is now Cuzco. They built the massive fortress, Sacsayhuamán
, during the twelfth century. Later, the fortress was used by the Inca, following their occupation of the region.
In 2007, excavations uncovered a temple on the edge of the fortress, indicating religious as well as military use of the facility.
New excavations began in June 2007 that will continue to 2012. On March 13, 2008, archaeologists discovered the ruins of another ancient temple, roadway, and irrigation systems at Sacsayhuamán
, overlooking the Inca capital of Cuzco. Part of the temple was destroyed by dynamite
blasts in the early twentieth century, when the site was used as a stone quarry.
Killke ceramics first were described by John H. Rowe, although he incorrectly identified them as "early Inca". These vessels often are globular with vertical strap-handles and having simple linear geometric decorations of black or black-on-red over a white or buff slip.
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n region around Cusco
Cusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
from 900 to 1200 AD, prior to the arrival of the Incas in the 1200s.
Killke culture flourished in highland
Highland (geography)
The term highland or upland is used to denote any mountainous region or elevated mountainous plateau. Generally speaking, the term upland tends to be used for ranges of hills, typically up to 500-600m, and highland for ranges of low mountains.The Scottish Highlands refers to the mountainous...
Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
in the Late Intermediate Period
Cultural periods of Peru
This is a chart of cultural periods of Peru and the Andean Region developed by Edward Lanning and used by some archaeologists studying the area...
around what is now Cuzco. They built the massive fortress, Sacsayhuamán
Sacsayhuamán
-External links:* BBC Article...
, during the twelfth century. Later, the fortress was used by the Inca, following their occupation of the region.
In 2007, excavations uncovered a temple on the edge of the fortress, indicating religious as well as military use of the facility.
New excavations began in June 2007 that will continue to 2012. On March 13, 2008, archaeologists discovered the ruins of another ancient temple, roadway, and irrigation systems at Sacsayhuamán
Sacsayhuamán
-External links:* BBC Article...
, overlooking the Inca capital of Cuzco. Part of the temple was destroyed by dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
blasts in the early twentieth century, when the site was used as a stone quarry.
Killke ceramics first were described by John H. Rowe, although he incorrectly identified them as "early Inca". These vessels often are globular with vertical strap-handles and having simple linear geometric decorations of black or black-on-red over a white or buff slip.