T-3A (Chiaramaya)

Chiaramaya is a major Formative Period site located approximately 1.5 km west of the Chiripa site. The modern road cuts the site, as it does Chiripa. The modern school overlies archaeological deposits, but the bulk of the site lies to the north of the road. Immediately to the north of the road is a broad terrace, approximately 50 by 50 meters, and 3 meters high on the downslope side. This terrace probably dates to the Late Chiripa phase, since its configuration is very similar to that of the Chiripa mound at that time.

The Early Chiripa occupation (sector A) extends approximately 200 meters north from the road, covering 3.5 ha. It has a population index value of 186, and is the largest Early Chiripa site discovered on the peninsula or indeed anywhere in the southern Titicaca Basin to date.

Chiaramaya was first mentioned as an archaeological site by Portugal Zamora and Bustamente in their report on their excavations at Chiripa (see [Bandy 1999a] for a discussion of this expedition). Since then it has been mentioned by Clark Erikson in a brief report on an informal survey he undertook in 1975 ([Erickson 1975]). The site itself has recently been disturbed by construction of a community meeting hall on the main platform, and it has been the subject of intense ownership disputes in recent years. It is also the site of an annual ceramics fair, attracting potters and vendors from the area around Batallas. The fair is widely attended by the inhabitants of nearby communities. For this reason the main platform is covered with a quite dense scatter of modern, republican and colonial ceramics. The Formative Period site nevertheless does seem to be well-preserved, and would be a prime spot for excavation.