Who were the Chachapoyas Indians in Pérou?

The Chachapoyas Indians are among the great civilizations that have shaped Pérou's history. Relatively unknown, the Chachapoyas are gradually revealing their secrets through discoveries made in the Amazon rainforest. The Chachapoyas, whose name means "Warriors of the Clouds," flourished in the Amazonas region in northern Pérou and ruled over a territory of 65,000 square kilometers during a period spanning from 700 to 1500 AD.

Their sudden decline began with the arrival of the Spanish, not because they were exterminated by them, but because the Incas accused them of being responsible for the arrival of these new invaders. When the Incas saw the conquistadors, they noticed certain similarities with the Chachapoyas, as these Indians were quite tall and, notably, fair-skinned. Moreover, they temporarily allied themselves with the Spanish against the Incas. All of this prompted the Incas to eliminate them!

History of the Chachapoyas

Between the 7th and 8th century AD

Little is known about the Chachapoyas, but in 2004 American and Peruvian archaeologists made a stunning discovery in the Amazon: a major metropolis located at 2,800 meters altitude in the Saposoa region. This settlement was composed of five citadels in the midst of the forest, demonstrating the influence and sophistication of this culture in the region.

Another example of the power of the Chachapoyas culture in Pérou during this era is the fortress of Kuelap, built in the 11th century, which managed to resist for centuries the Incas' repeated invasion attempts.

Until 1475 AD

Long and numerous wars marked the region's history, fought between the Incas and the Chachapoyas, but finally in 1475 the Inca Tupac Yupanqui succeeded in subduing this people. Despite this, the Chachapoyas continued to resist.

1532

Tired of all these revolts, the Inca Atahualpa himself asked Francisco Pizarro to help him crush the Chachapoyas once and for all. But the Spanish saw an excellent opportunity to weaken the Inca empire and ultimately allied themselves with the Chachapoyas people.

1536

The people refused to participate in the revolution of Manco Capac II, and then gradually they disappeared without our knowing much about the reason.

The Remains of the Chachapoyas Culture in Pérou

The Chachapoyas Indians left behind numerous vestiges of their civilization, at Kuelap for example or at Jalca with the circular structure of Colla Cruz. Several sanctuaries were discovered, such as in the Valley of the Mummies, where nearly 200 mummies were found, allowing us to better understand their rituals.

Several mummies characteristic of the Chachapoyas are housed in the Leymebamba Museum, near the city of Chachapoyas in Amazonas. Mummies in a fetal position, curled up on themselves, with hands tied together and positioned above the head.

Several other sites testify to their brilliant civilization, such as:

• The Mausoleums of Revash or Usator
• The sarcophagi of Carajia, Chipuric, Petuen, Guan, and Ucaso
• The Lagoon of the Condors

But if you would like to learn more about these remains and discover everything worth seeing about this culture in the region, we invite you to read our article on the city of Chachapoyas in Pérou and the tourist attractions that surround it.