Qillqatani

Qillqatani is an important archaeological site located in the Puno Region of Peru, known for its significant rock art panels and historical habitation patterns. The site has been systematically excavated, revealing 36 cultural strata. Initially inhabited as a seasonal campsite by hunter-gatherers around 7500 BP, the site was predominantly used for hunting camelids and some deer. By 3660 BP, it saw a shift to a more permanent settlement as camelid-herders established long-term habitation, constructing houses and engaging in trade, particularly for Chenopodium from lower altitudes. Qillqatani offers valuable insights into the transition from hunter-gatherer to pastoralist lifestyles in the Lake Titicaca basin, highlighting changes in habitation practices and subsistence strategies over millennia.