Pukara

The Spanish also referred to the Mapuche earthen forts built during the Arauco War in the 16th and 17th centuries by this term.

North of Quito, the Incas met stiff opposition from several chiefdoms, collectively called the Pais Caranqui.

The Pambamarca Fortress Complex was a group of pukaras built by the Incas to prosecute the war against the Cayambe people.

Other pukaras grouped around the town of Caranqui facilitated the final defeat of the chiefdoms and their incorporation into the Inca Empire.

Peru has hundreds of towns, ruins, and locations with the name of Pucara;[4] however, it is not known how many of these sites were actually built or maintained during the Inca Empire or if were actual fortresses in first place, as it has been customary since the colony to designate as pucara whichever place seemingly appearing to have been a fortress, despite the fact that it may have never been used as such.