Wilcahuain Guide:
History, Architecture and Practical Information

The Wilcahuain archaeological complex, also called Willkawain or Huillcahuayin depending on the sources, is located in the populated centre of Paria, in the district of Independencia, province of Huaraz, in Áncash. The site lies about 7 kilometres north-east of Huaraz, in the Callejón de Huaylas.

Set at over 3,400 metres altitude, Wilcahuain is a pre-Hispanic architectural ensemble mainly associated with the Wari culture. Available information also indicates an older occupation or origin linked to the Recuay tradition.

Wilcahuain is mainly associated with the Wari culture and the development of Middle Horizon architecture in the Callejón de Huaylas region. Sources date the construction of the main complex to around 600 to 900 AD, while indicating that the origin of the site may be older.

The site indeed shows links with the Recuay culture, which previously held an important place in this region. The cultural transformations observed in the Callejón de Huaylas then bear witness to Wari influence and the integration of new architectural and funerary forms.

The first archaeological studies mentioned in the compiled information were notably conducted by Julio C. Tello from 1937, then continued by Wendell Bennett, who studied in particular the funerary elements of the site in the 1940s.

Wilcahuain is thus presented as an ancient administrative and funerary centre, whose constructions bear witness to the importance given to practices linked to ancestors and to the elites of the time.

The main building of Wilcahuain is often called a "temple", but the archaeological information gathered describes it rather as a mausoleum. It was part of an urban ensemble that is said to have covered a large area.

The monument is built of stone and has three levels or platforms, connected by internal stairways and ramps. Each level has its own access. The whole reaches about 9 metres in height.

The building measures approximately 10.7 metres by 15.6 metres at its base. Its walls are made of stones assembled with smaller elements and earth mortar. The roof is formed of large inclined slabs, designed to facilitate water drainage.

A particular interior architecture

The building comprises a total of 19 interior rooms: five on the first level, seven on the second and seven on the third. It also has a ventilation system made up of galleries and shafts, one of the most characteristic architectural elements of the monument.

The various features of the building show the mastery of construction techniques employed by the pre-Hispanic societies of the region and bear witness to the particular function attributed to this monumental ensemble.

The architecture of Wilcahuain is closely linked to the funerary practices of the time. Sources indicate an evolution from ancient tombs in underground galleries towards monumental constructions of the mausoleum or chullpa type.

These structures could include several platforms and different chambers intended for burials. Available information notably associates these spaces with members of the elites and with practices linked to ancestor worship.

The complex thus bears witness to the importance of the funerary dimension in the architectural organisation of the site. The main building, despite its traditional name of temple, should therefore be considered above all as a monument associated with mortuary practices.

About 800 metres from the main complex lies Ichic Wilcahuain, an archaeological ensemble of more modest dimensions also influenced by the Wari culture.

The compiled information mentions the presence of several chullpas and other architectural structures. Some sources indicate an ensemble composed of 15 chullpas, corresponding to multi-level constructions with different chambers.

Archaeological research carried out between 2005 and 2007 brought to light various objects, including textiles, metal objects, offering ceramics and stone batanes. These discoveries provide additional elements on the daily and ritual practices associated with the complex.

A site museum is associated with the Wilcahuain archaeological monument. It presents various cultural materials discovered in the area and allows visitors to complement the observation of the archaeological structures with an approach to the objects found during research.

The visit to Wilcahuain mainly allows visitors to discover the monumental architecture of the Middle Horizon and the funerary practices associated with the populations that occupied this part of the Callejón de Huaylas.

The proximity of Huaraz also makes it a site suited to a short visit from the city, particularly to complement the discovery of the region's archaeological heritage.

Wilcahuain is located about 7 kilometres north-east of Huaraz, in the Paria area, within the district of Independencia.

Its proximity to Huaraz makes it easy to reach the complex as an excursion from the city. The Ichic Wilcahuain site lies about 800 metres from the main complex, which means both archaeological ensembles can be considered in a single discovery.

The archaeological complex is located at an altitude of about 3,400 to 3,500 metres. The various sources do not give exactly the same altitude; it is therefore preferable to retain this range rather than a single value.

Available information indicates that the site museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm. As these hours may change, it is recommended to check visiting conditions before travelling.

As the visit is devoted to protected archaeological heritage, the structures, remains and developed areas of the complex should be respected.

With its monumental three-level mausoleum, its funerary spaces and the presence of Ichic Wilcahuain nearby, the complex is an important testimony of the pre-Hispanic architecture of the Callejón de Huaylas. Its location a few kilometres from Huaraz makes it possible to discover this archaeological heritage as part of a short cultural excursion.