The famous
ruins of Quilmes
, in the west of
Tucumán
, constitute one of the main archaeological sites in the country.
Due to its magnitude, the state of conservation and the landscape that surrounds it, it immediately surprises those who visit it.
This
Sacred City
today functions as an archaeological site for researchers, and an open-air museum for tourists, but since the year 800 it knew how to be the home of approximately 3,000 inhabitants who belonged to the original Quilmes people.
Thanks to the work of a team of specialists, who
restored the most important buildings
, visitors can walk through the housing complex and see
two fortresses
that served as defenses against possible attacks from neighboring indigenous populations.
The constructions seem unfinished, but what is observed are the ceilings.
EATT photo.
When looking at the ruins, it seems that they are foundations or
unfinished constructions
.
This is because the specialists determined that the houses were made in a well made just over a meter and a half from the surface, to protect their environments from inclement weather.
The edge of these supposed foundations are, then, the tops of the walls where the roofs
that were made of light materials such as wood, branches, and reeds were based
.
Another striking element of these ruins is the construction of huge
water dams
and the large amount of crops, mainly corn, which were the food base of these original peoples.
It is believed that the strategy applied by the Spanish to defeat this people consisted of cutting off their access to reserve sources of resources, both water and food.
The city was expertly restored in 1977. Photo EATT.
tourist options
Quilmes Tucumano is an open-air museum
that can be visited all year round
.
In addition to the ruins, on the 30-hectare property, there is an
Interpretation Center
with four rooms that detail, through different visual, auditory and tactile resources, various aspects of the life of the Quilmes.
The first room reveals the origin of the Quilmes, the settlement in the Calchaquí valley, and the Santa María or Yokavil river.
The second room recreates scenes from the
daily life
of the Quilmes.
Replicas of clothing, ornaments, weapons, farming tools, harvesting utensils, food storage and preparation, elements used in religious or funeral practices are exhibited.
The ruins can be visited independently or with a guide.
EATT photo.
The tour continues with an
audiovisual projection
and culminates in the laboratory, where there are
archaeological pieces
still being studied by a team of specialized professionals.
The visit can be done independently or hire a
guide from the community
.
The excursion lasts 5 hours and includes a transfer from Amaicha in a vehicle for four or eight people, and explains the importance of the carob forests, the prehistoric hunter-gatherers, what the site represents and how it was rebuilt in 1977.
tucuman sacred city of the quilmes
MINIGUIDE
How to get there
The Sacred City of Quilmes is 1,342 km from Buenos Aires and 180 km from San Miguel de Tucumán.
From the Tucuman capital you have to take the RN 38 toward the south until Acheral;
from there, RP 307, which ascends to Tafí del Valle and then descends until it meets RN 40, in Valle Calchaquíes.
From there it is three km to the entrance to the archaeological site.
Where to stay
The closest accommodations are in Colalao del Valle (19 km north), Amaicha del Valle (21 km east) and Santa María (Catamarca) 33 km south.
Where to find out
www.tucumanturismo.gob.ar
look also
Landscapes, flavors and history on the Tucumán Wine Route
Art, wines and acorn-fed ham: a different trip through Salta