Peru Upper Amazon Region: More pre-Inca Chachapoya Ruins

My last post showed a few pictures of Chachapoya stone ruins which, in 2007, when I photographed them, had just been discovered by settlers. Buried under the moss of the cloud forest, they were difficult to distinguish from the surrounding vegetation.

     However, Chachapoya ruins, like the Kuelap citadel, have been known to exist for more than a century. Over the years many have been cleared from the surrounding vegetation to give travelers easier access to them. And though what pushed me to return to Chachapoya country was the news of the  new discovery, I also photographed several of the more accessible ones, as shown hereafter.

 

Pre-Inca Chachapoya sarcophagi (mummy casings) looking towards the rising sun on a cliff ledge of the Andes Mountains’ eastern face at the Karija site.  There is no way to photograph them from the front.

Chachapoya cliff mausolea at site known as Revash.

Chachapoya cliff mausolea at site known as Revash.

Chachapoya cliff necropolis known as Diablo Huasi, a day trek from Leimebamba.

Chachapoya cliff necropolis known as Diablo Huasi, a day trek from Leimebamba.

Chachapoya cliff necropolis known as Diablo Huasi, a day trek from Leimebamba.

Chachapoya ruin near Leimebamba known as El Molinete

Chachapoya ruin near Leimebamba known as El Molinete..

Kuelap, a Chachapoya walled city and citadel. Its protective wall rises at places to more than 30 feet. Llamas browsing.

Kuelap, a Chachapoya walled city and citadel. Its protective wall rises at places to more than 30 feet. Llamas browsing.

 Kuelap, a Chachapoya walled city and citadel. 

 Kuelap, a Chachapoya walled city and citadel. 

Kuelap, a Chachapoya walled city and citadel. 

Kuelap, a Chachapoya walled city and citadel. 

 Kuelap, a Chachapoya walled city and citadel. 

 Kuelap, a Chachapoya walled city and citadel. 

 Kuelap, a Chachapoya walled city and citadel. The snake was one of four Chachapoya deities.

 I photographed this Chachapoya stone engraving at a hotel. The owner could not tell where it came from. The puma that it represents was another of four Chachapoya deities.

Leymebamba (Amazonas). Museum. Casing of a Chachapoya mummy  inside a glass display.

 Chachapoya bones rolled up like firewood. Was displayed at the Leimebamba Museum.