Marcahuamachuco

Marcahuamachuco is an archeological site of Pre-Incan ruins in the La Libertad Region of Peru [1]. Construction of Marcahuamachuco began around AD 400, during the Andean Middle Horizon period and continued until approximately 800 AD [1]. Before being conquered by the Incas in the 14th century, Marcahuamachuco was known as northern Peru's most important political, economic and military center [1]. The first formal archaeological research in Marcahuamachuco was conducted during three months in 1900 by Max Uhle and Julio C. Tello under the auspices of the University of California, Berkeley [1]. Marcahuamachuco is set atop the nexus of three mountain valleys at an altitude of more than 3,200 meters [1]. Encompassing more than three kilometres of land, the site is celebrated for its massive castillos and unique circular double-walled archaeological structures [1]. The domestic residences are multi-storied galleries which originally housed numerous individual families [1].