Karajia

Karajia is an ancient funerary site of the Chachapopyas. Located high up on the left side of the Utcubamba river valley Karajia rewards the visitor with six intricately carved 3 meter high anthropomorphic wooden coffins.

The six anthropomorphic wooden coffins at Karajia, known locally as purunmachus, are made from stone, wood poles and clay. The word Purunmachu is Quechuan, purun meaning wild, and machu meaning old. The Chachapopyas people buried their deceased in these purunmachus, through a multi step process that can be explained by the locally knowledgeable guides. The purunmachus are each topped with a human skull.

Karajia is located 70km from Chachapoyas and the funerary site itself is a difficult place to