Before the advent of the Incas the area was united under a single political entity referred to as the "Señorio de Huamachuco" (Huamachuco lordship) by colonial chroniclers,[2] a Kulyi-speaking polity that had as their main deity the thunder god of Catequil, an oracle and the principal wak'a of the Huamachucos, later incorporated into the official Inca pantheon, whose shrine was located in the center of Huamachucos' territory, archaeologists have identified the mountain of Cerro Icchal with Catequil (both as the seat of the wak'a and as the wak'a himself),[3] the ruins of Namanchugo, Catequil's main sanctuary,[4] are situated at the hillfoot of the Cerro Icchal mountain, although it has been largely destroyed by Atawallpa[5] and colonial priests, its magnificence and importance was recorded by colonial chroniclers, Catequil was a famous god venerated through the northern Peruvian highlands and beyond since pre-Inca times,[6] pilgrims seeking to find answers were one of the main sources of income to the Huamachucos, the shrine prosperity is perhaps one of the reasons why the area surrounding Huamachuco does not seem to have been seriously affected, as large parts of the Peruvian highlands were, by the demographic collapse following the end of the Middle Horizon era (Wari state's demise),[7] rather population growth appears to be continuous in the area.

[11] Following the Inca conquest, the Marcahuamachuco population was likely resettled where the modern town of Huamachuco stands today.

[13] With the Incas came enclaves of settlers called mitmaqkuna and an extensive system of tambos was built in the area, both things supported by archaeological research.

During the Peruvian War of Independence, it was named as a very illustrious and faithful city by General Jose de San Martin.

Huamachuco is located between the eastern and western cordillera of the Andes Mountains, and 100 km south of Cajamarca.

Huamachuco's deep valley slopes show evidence of deliberate farming of native Andean trees and shrub vegetation.

It appears that in prehistoric times, the temperature of the land was slightly warmer than today, allowing agriculture at elevations 100–300 m. higher than is possible in the 20th and 21st centuries.