Killke culture

The Killke culture occupied the South American region around Cusco, Peru from 900 to 1200 AD, prior to the development of Incan culture in the 13th century.

Killke culture flourished in highland Peru in the Late Intermediate Period around what is now Cusco. Archaeologist Oscar Rodriguez suggests that the Killke built small sections of the fortress Saksaywaman during the 12th century, prior to the Incan expansion of the site.

In 2007, excavations uncovered a temple on the edge of the fortress, indicating religious as well as military use of the site.

Killke ceramics first were described by John H. Rowe. These vessels often are globular with vertical strap-handles and having simple linear geometric decorations of black or black-on-red over a white or buff slip.

It was the American archaeologist John Howland Rowe (1918–2004) who named the Killke culture.