Pikillaqta

Ancient pre-Incan walls have survived over 1000 years at Pikillaqta outside of Cusco, Peru.

The overgrowth is typical of any hillside.  Note the red flowering tree in the center. Pikillaqta outside of Cusco, Peru.

The walls go on for quite a ways in two directions.  They are very straight, too.  Pikillaqta outside of Cusco, Peru.

Many of the ancient Wari walls are at least two stories high.  Pikillaqta outside of Cusco, Peru.

It

Plants thrive in the remains of an ancient Wari wall at Pikillaqta outside of Cusco, Peru.

The view from Pikillaqta outside of Cusco, Peru.

It goes on and on.  They say that 1000 years ago these walls were covered in white gypsum, the same mineral that we use in drywall today.  Pikillaqta outside of Cusco, Peru.

The stonework is fairly ordinary at Pikillaqta outside of Cusco, Peru.  Nothing compared to the Incas 500 years later.

Cactus and other plants call one of the walls home.  Pikillaqta outside of Cusco, Peru.

Not even at a remote site such as Pikillaqta outside of Cusco, Peru can you escape the vendors.  At least there were only 2 of them here.  Not a lot of traffic to this archeological site.