Pukara

This article is about the fortresses in the Andean region in South America. For other uses, see Pukara (disambiguation).

File:Pukara de Quitor.jpg

Part of the complex Quitor Pukara as seen from the inside

Ruins of the Tilcara Pukara near Tilcara, Argentina

Pukara (Aymara and Quechua for "fortress", hispanicized spellings pucara, pucará) is a ruin of the fortifications made by the natives of the central Andean cultures (that is to say: from Ecuador to the Central Valley of Chile and the Argentine Northwest) and particularly to those of the Inca. The Spanish also referred to Mapuche earthen forts in the Arauco War by this term.

Furthermore, one of the most refined branches of the Chavín culture is sometimes referred to as "Pukara culture" or "Pukara style". It seems to have been a foundation of the later Wari Empire and Tiwanaku culture.

Today, the term is commonly found in toponyms of the Andes region, like for the pukaras of Andalicán, Angol, Camiña, Cañete, Nama, Quiapo, Tilcara, Turi, Cerro La Muralla, La Compañia, Lasan, Quitor and Puka Pukara.