Acaray
Encyclopedia
For the hydroelectic power plant and HVDC-back-to-back facility in Paraguay, see Acaray Power Plant
Acaray, also known as the Fortress of Acaray, is an archaeological site
located in the Huaura River Valley on the near north coast of Peru
(or the Norte Chico). The impressive fortress is located on a series of three hilltops, each ringed with a number of perimeter defensive walls that have parapet
s and bastions, which stand as testaments to the military nature of the site. Surrounding the hilltop fortress are lower-lying areas of occupation and extensive cemeteries that have been heavily looted.
, published in Lima
. Calling it the Fortaleza de Huaura (the Fortress of Huaura), he deemed Acaray to be a true fortress, unlike the more well-known neighboring site of Paramonga
in the Pativilca River Valley, whose defensive nature has been questioned. Horkheimer noted the abundance of rolled river cobble
s on the surface of the site which were likely used as projectiles or slingstones.
During the 1970s interest in Acaray increased and the first work by archaeologists was initiated at the fortress. Peruvian archaeologist Mercédes Cárdenas, of the Riva Agüero Institute, excavated at Acaray, among other coastal sites, as part of a larger project to understand the use of marine resources in the past on the Peruvian coast and to obtain radiocarbon dates. She led a team that surveyed the Huaura Valley and excavated at several sites, including the hilltop fort at Acaray . Around the same time, Peruvian archaeologist Arturo Ruiz Estrada, of the National University José Faustino Sánchez Carrión, and Peruvian engineer Domingo Torero visited the fortress and wrote a detailed account describing the architectural features of the site.
In 2004, North American archaeologist Margaret Brown Vega, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, began research at Acaray, carrying out intensive mapping, surface analysis, and excavations, which lasted for two years.
Acaray Power Plant
The Acaray Dam is a hydroelectric dam situated in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. It has an electrical output of , supplying 3% of Paraguay's electricity demand.- HVDC-back-to-back station :...
Acaray, also known as the Fortress of Acaray, is an archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
located in the Huaura River Valley on the near north coast of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
(or the Norte Chico). The impressive fortress is located on a series of three hilltops, each ringed with a number of perimeter defensive walls that have parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
s and bastions, which stand as testaments to the military nature of the site. Surrounding the hilltop fortress are lower-lying areas of occupation and extensive cemeteries that have been heavily looted.
History of Research
Attention was called to the site early on by the German archaeologist Hans Horkheimer, who wrote about Acaray in 1962 in the Peruvian magazine, CaretasCaretas
Caretas is a weekly newsmagazine published in Lima, Peru, renowned for its investigative journalism. It was founded in October 1950 by Doris Gibson and Francisco Igartua....
, published in Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
. Calling it the Fortaleza de Huaura (the Fortress of Huaura), he deemed Acaray to be a true fortress, unlike the more well-known neighboring site of Paramonga
Paramonga
Paramonga was an important city constructed at the border of the former Kingdom of Chimor in Peru during the late Intermediate Period whose capital was the metropolis of Chan Chan....
in the Pativilca River Valley, whose defensive nature has been questioned. Horkheimer noted the abundance of rolled river cobble
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
s on the surface of the site which were likely used as projectiles or slingstones.
During the 1970s interest in Acaray increased and the first work by archaeologists was initiated at the fortress. Peruvian archaeologist Mercédes Cárdenas, of the Riva Agüero Institute, excavated at Acaray, among other coastal sites, as part of a larger project to understand the use of marine resources in the past on the Peruvian coast and to obtain radiocarbon dates. She led a team that surveyed the Huaura Valley and excavated at several sites, including the hilltop fort at Acaray . Around the same time, Peruvian archaeologist Arturo Ruiz Estrada, of the National University José Faustino Sánchez Carrión, and Peruvian engineer Domingo Torero visited the fortress and wrote a detailed account describing the architectural features of the site.
In 2004, North American archaeologist Margaret Brown Vega, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, began research at Acaray, carrying out intensive mapping, surface analysis, and excavations, which lasted for two years.