Alto Pukara is located immediately below (north of) the modern road, in the community of Cala Cala. The principal occupation (covering 3.5 ha) pertains to the Late Chiripa and Late Formative 1 phases. The Middle Chiripa occupation (Sector A) covers only 2.0 ha, and is the first occupation of the site. The sherd scatter extends from just north of the modern road to the edge of the pampa. The site comprises three broad habitation terraces rising from the pampa (see Figure 6.5 for a rough map of the site). Above the habitation terraces lies a smaller terrace/platform which probably represents some form of corporate construction, similar to the Chiripa mound but more modest. This was excavated in 2000 by Robin Beck of northwestern University, and will be the subject of his forthcoming dissertation. He uncovered two well-preserved structures fronting an open plaza, suggesting an architectural complex conceptually similar to the Lower or Upper Houses of Chiripa, though not identical.
The site is very well-preserved and its excavation has yielded excellent results.