Con una pacarina a la vista: arquitectura como construccion de autoridad alrededor de la laguna de Puruhuay

Commencing in the eleventh century A.D. a series of settlements and ceremonial sites, in close relationship with the Puruhuay Lake and the waterfall “María Jiray” (Acopalca district, Huari, Ancash) were constructed. The majority of these sites have been studied during the archaeological campaigns of the Project «Antonio Raimondi» between 2006 and 2009. The close relationship between the sites is evident not only because they were built during the same period and within a contiguous territory, but also because of the uniform type of architecture. The complex of settlements built around the lake appear as a planned system of control of a natural place; a natural site that is considered an important pacarina even today, and a resource of great importance for the local economy.