The city of Moquegua is in the Osmore river drainage, on the western slopes of the Andes mountains, in the far south of Perú.
Moquegua is just off the Panamerican highway between Arequipa and Tacna. Prehistorically, it was on a good route to the coast from the Lake Titicaca area, with its ancient capital at Tiwanaku. Between 500 AD and 1000 AD, the two prehistoric states centered at Tiwanaku and at Wari established settlements near Moquegua, the only known place where they were in direct contact. The modern port city of Ilo is at the mouth of the Osmore river, also called the Moquegua or Ilo river. Prehistoric people living on the shoreline and in small coastal valleys from at least Ilo to Arica formed a regional identity somewhat distinct from the higher, inland Moquegua area, thanks to relatively easy travel by boat or on foot along the coast.
Moquegua is located around 1400 meters above sea level, by the largest area of farmland in the valley. The largest Tiwanaku settlement and cemetery, called Chen Chen, was located right next to Moquegua, and their main temple was built downriver at Omo. The Wari state established an important center atop the sheer-sided mesa of Cerro Baúl. The coastal segment of the valley was partially isolated from Moquegua by an inhospitable dry gorge. The coastal valley is known for its large Chiribaya villages, especially the center of Chiribaya Alta. From about 1000 AD to 1250 AD, the Chiribaya shared the valley with Tumilaca phase settlers at sites such as El Algodonal and Loreto Alto, who immigrated from the Moquegua area when the Tiwanaku state collapsed.
In this aerial view looking northeast, Moquegua is just outside the picture, below the lower left corner. The archaeological site of Chen Chen is on the flat area at the bottom edge of the picture, slightly left of center. The town in the lower center is Samegua, and beyond it is the lower part of the Tumilaca valley. In the upper left is the southern foot of Cerro Los Angeles. The archaeological site of Estuquiña covers the narrow triangular spit of uncultivated land projecting from the lower left edge of Cerro Los Angeles.
In this view from the southeastern slope of Cerro Los Angeles (a place that only a dedicated hiker or archaeological surveyor is likely to visit), Moquegua is just visible in the distance, in the upper center to the right of a low hill. Samegua is closer, but mostly hidden behind a reddish hill slightly above center on the left.
Copyright (c) 1999, Dr. Bruce Owen. All rights reserved.
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URL of this document: http://bruceowen.com/contisuyo/WhereIsMoqE.html
Revised: 25 October 1999