Chanka People

The Chanka people (or Chanca) were a Late Intermediate (ca. 1400 CE.) ethnic group in Peru. Enemies of the Incas, they were centered primarily in Andahuaylas, located in the modern day region of Apurímac. The Chankas were divided into three groups: the Hanan Chankas, or the Upper Chankas; Hurin Chankas, or the Lower Chankas; and the Villca, or Hancohuallos. The Hanan Chankas had their center at Andahuaylas, the Hurin Chankas at Uranmarca, and the Villca at Vilcas Huaman.

When describing the Chankas, there is a need to distinguish between two ethnic groups with well-marked characteristics: the Hanan Chankas (or later called "kingdom of Park that war with the Cusco Quechua"); and the Hurin Chankas who surrendered voluntarily to the Quechua Cusco which were not destroyed or subjected to forced land transfers (mitmakuna). The Hanan Chanka did not make major contributions despite villages and found remains of Wari pottery and their own rudimentary tools. This is an area that needs to be better studied.

The Hanan Chancas were an ethnic group that inhabited the region in the departments of Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Junin and part of Apurímac in Peru. They are said to have originated from Lake Choclococha and united the colonial "Choclopus" (or "chocorvos") and Urcococha both in the Huancavelica Department. Its initial territory was located between the rivers "Ancoyaco (current Mantaro), Pampas and Pachachaca, tax Apurímac. When expanded, made the area "Ancoyaco ayllukuna" with its headquarters in Paucar and the Uran Chancas of Andahuaylas based secondary. They developed an autonomous culture and had an optional language of puquina. Its capital was Waman Karpa ("house of falcon"), on the shore of Lake Anori, 35 km of Andahuaylas, on the banks of the river Pampas.

The initiator of the expansion of Chancas was called Uscovilca, and his mummy was preserved with veneration in Waman Karpa until the time of the Incas.