Over a thousand years ago, in the mists of the cloud forests of northern Peru, near the source of the mighty Amazon River, the Chachapoya Cloud Warriors reigned supreme. Long before the emergence of the Inca State, these mysterious, shamanic warlords ruled a vast swath of the Andes before being defeated by the Inca, abandoning their great citadel and vanishing into history.
In recent decades, additional archaeological evidence has come to light from two primary sources, the fortress city known as Kuelap, and the cliff face necropolis at the Lagoon of the Condors which contains the Chachapoya mummies. Because these cultures left no written records (that we’re currently aware of), the only sources of information relating to them were native, oral traditions, and documentary accounts written by early European explorers. This has led to centuries of speculation and controversy.
Kuelap, the Lagoon of the Condors and the Chachapoya Mummies
Rising up nearly 10,000 feet (3,048 m) above the Utcubamba Valley, surrounded by clouds, orchids and epiphytes, the walled settlement of Kuelap dominates the landscape. Sometimes called the Machu Picchu of the North, Kuelap is an underrated wonder of the ancient world which was once home to the so-called Chachapoya Cloud Warriors.
The perimeter walls of the settlement are 60 feet (30 m) high, protecting over 400 circular dwelling structures which originally had thatched conical roofs, an aspect which is absolutely anomalous in pre-Columbian architecture. There are…
