El Qhapaq Ñan del Qollasuyu: Puno – Desaguadero

The Qhapaq Ñan, an ancient Andean road system, served as a multifaceted instrument of integration, fostering social, environmental, economic, cultural, administrative, and political cohesion across the Qollasuyu region. This study reveals that its design evolved with ritual and symbolic architecture in settled territories, reinforcing social unity. By analyzing historical sources, including Inka, Colonial, and Virreinal tambos (rest stops), the research traces the spatial and temporal evolution of the Puno–Desaguadero segment, particularly within the Urcosuyu sub-region. The findings highlight the system's grandeur, as noted by chronicler Cieza in 1556, emphasizing its role as a monumental network connecting major cities like Quito, Cusco, and Chile.

Copa, M. (2022). El Qhapaq Ñan del Qollasuyu: Puno – Desaguadero. Ciencia Y Desarrollo, 25(4), 67. https://doi.org/10.21503/cyd.v25i4.2436