The Chachapoya Fortress of Kuelap

Kuelap is an extensive fortress of the Chachapoya culture, located on a mountain in the middle of other, smaller settlements in the ceja de selva of northern Peru.


The gigantic Kuelap walls



One of several animals and faces carved into the monumental entrance to the site on the inside.



A nice doorway to a house.



Some of the houses with geometric decoration around the edges.



Part of the site that is still overgrown and uninvestigated.



A reconstructed traditional Chachapoyas house.







One of the many controlled entrances.



The southern tower, from which stone axes and 2500 slingstones were excavated.






The site is located way above the valley floor in the middle of smaller, but also defensible, contemporary sites.



Only 5% of the site has been investigated, they say.