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It is a National
Archaeological Park located toward the east of Qosqo
City; covering a territory of about 2200 hectares
(5436 acres) in the Oropesa district, province of
Quispicanchis. In order to get the main archaeological
monument there is a 5 Km. (3 mile) dusty road from
kilometer 18 (mile 11.2) of the road Cusco-Puno, towards
the north and crossing the "Watanay" rivulet.
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A half kilometer away from the paved road is the small village
of Tipón where an extraordinary colonial abode stands
out. The abode is part of the Qespikancha hamlet that was
property of the De San Lorenzo de Valle Umbroso Marquises
(1650 -1802). It is without any doubt, the most important
countryside monument inherited from colonial times but nowadays
is completely abandoned. The original Quechua name of the
whole Park is lost, and today it has diverse groups, standing
out the sector where some Inkan "royal inclosures"
are found. According to Victor Angles those inclosures were
made built by Inka Wiraqocha as a dwelling and refuge for
his father Yawar Wakaq after his flight in the war against
the Chankas. That group is found in a slight and warm ravine
at an altitude of 3500 mts. (11480 Ft.). Besides, the terracing
found over here is very impressive, it contains 12 very fertile
terraces that are still cultivated, and their retaining walls
were built with well carved stones. Even more impressive is
the irrigation system that is still serving agriculture and
was made taking advantage of the water spring existing in
the spot. It has carved stone channels, precisely calculated
and sometimes with almost vertical falls that all together
constitute a hydraulic engineering master work. Likewise,
there are some fountains that must had ceremonial duties.
Because of its location and the presence of a surrounding
wall Tipón must have been a very exclusive site, interdependent
with some other sectors that today have divers names, among
which are "Intiwatana" toward the West, "Pukutuyoq",
"Pukara", "Hatun Wayk'o", etc. Towards
the group's southwest, in the almost vertical mountain surface
is the cemetery named "Pitopuqyo" that today has
rows of looted tombs. It is worth mentioning that all over
the park there is a huge amount of different cultural vestiges,
including thousands of surface broken ceramic pieces.
