# Cojitambo

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{{Short description|Place in Ecuador}}
right|thumb|250px|The ruins of Cojitambo.
'''Cojitambo''' is an [Inca](/source/Inca_Empire) and pre-Inca archaeological ruin, a popular [rock climbing](/source/rock_climbing) site, and a small village west of [Azogues](/source/Azogues), capital of [Canar](/source/Ca%C3%B1ar_Province%2C_Ecuador) province of [Ecuador](/source/Ecuador).<ref>Ministry of tourism information sign on site</ref>

The name is said by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism to derive from the [Quechua language](/source/Quechua_language) ''curi tambo'', or ''Inn of Gold'' (although no gold has been found at the site).<ref>"Cojitambo--the ruins" https://www.notyouraverageamerican.com/2015/02/03/cojitambo-the-ruins/, accessed 23 Jun 2017</ref>

==Location and description==

The Cojitambo archaeological site is at an elevation of {{convert|3020|m|ft}} above sea level. Azogues is {{convert|6|km|mi}} northeast. The straight-line distance northeast from the city of [Cuenca](/source/Cuenca%2C_Ecuador) is {{convert|18|km|mi}}.
[[File:Cojitambostageliketerras.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Stage-like terrace at Cojitambo archaeological site, [Canar](/source/Ca%C3%B1ar_Province%2C_Ecuador) province, [Ecuador](/source/Ecuador).]]

The sheer eastern face of Cojitambo rock rises {{convert|150|m|ft}} from the outskirts of the village of Cojitambo. The cliffs run for about {{convert|500|m|ft}} in a north-south direction. The dome-shaped rock is Ecuador's most popular site for rock climbing with more than 100 routes identified. The climbing routes are rated from easy to 5.14 (very difficult).<ref>Google Earth; "Ecuadorian Adventure 2012, https://kelseyjinecuador.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/cuenca-part-i-cojitambo, accessed 22 Jun 2017/</ref>

The Cojitambo archaeological sits on a small flattened area on top of the cliffs.  The terrain is less steep in the north and west and a road leads to the summit and ruins.

==Background==

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that the site of Cojitambo was occupied from 500 BCE onward.<ref>Garcia, Wilson and Paida, Zaida (nd), "Las Ruinas de Cojitambo, Herencia Cañari-Inca que se ofrece al Turismo," p. 14; http://cdjbv.ucuenca.edu.ec/ebooks/thg427.pdf{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, accessed 23 Jun 2017</ref>  It was probably both a military and religious site of the [Cañari](/source/Ca%C3%B1ari) people long before the arrival of the Incas.<ref>Ogburn, Dennis Edward (2001), ''The Inca Occupation and Forced Resettlement in Saraguro, Ecuador'', Santa Barbara: University of California Dissertation, p. 312</ref>

The Incas began their conquest of Ecuador under the emperor [Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui](/source/Pachacuti_Inca_Yupanqui) (ruled c. 1438–1471) about 1450. Prior to the Inca invasion the Cañari probably consisted of a number of related, but politically independent, [chiefdom](/source/chiefdom)s. They united to resist the Incas, but succumbed about 1460 after a vigorous struggle. Cojitambo was built in part to suppress the Cañari and to further the conquest of peoples further north.  After their conquest the Incas instituted a major building program to integrate the Cañari into their empire.  This included construction of the [Inca royal road](/source/Inca_road_system) which stretched the length of the Inca Empire and passed through Cojitambo. Cojitambo served religious and ceremonial purposes.<ref>Garcia and Paida, pp. 14-17</ref>

The Incas also quarried building stones at Cojitambo.  They transported blocks of [andesite](/source/andesite) to their northern capital of [Tomebamba](/source/Tomebamba), modern day Cuenca.<ref>Ogburn, Dennis (Winter 2004), "Power in Stone: The Long-Distance Movement of Building Blocks in the Inca Empire," ''Ethnology'', Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 123</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* http://www.ecostravel.com/en/ecuador/cities-destination/cojitambo-ruins-cuenca.php

{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|2|45|36|S|78|53|20|W|display=title|region:EC_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}}

Category:Populated places in Cañar Province
Category:Archaeological sites in Ecuador
Category:Buildings and structures in Cañar Province
Category:Climbing areas of Ecuador

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cojitambo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cojitambo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cojitambo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.