Viracochapampa is the name of a Wari empire outpost that was begun on a main Andean roadway, but never finished. As such, the site provides a unique look at construction methods for the Huari.
Located about 3 kilometers from Huamachuco, the prevailing theory about why Viracochapampa was never finished is that the Huari conquered Huamachucho and didn't need the fortress. Viracochapampa was begun between AD 500 and 700.
Archaeological work on the site has been conducted by John Topic and associates at the Ciudad Universitaria, Trujillo, Peru.
Sources
This glossary entry is part of the Guide to the Wari Empire and the Dictionary of Archaeology.
McEwan, Gordon F. 1998 The function of niched halls in Wari architecture. Latin American Antiquity 9(1):68-86.
