Lodging Room
Stone structures with roofs made of straw provided housing and a resting place for travelers and other official users of the road. One of these structures might also house a small family that was responsible for looking after the tampu: maintaining it, keeping it clean, and restocking for new visitors.
CloseOpen Space (Inner Courtyard)
This open space was a domestic area, often used for socializing, cooking, or eating, as there was no kitchen within the lodgings. People often sat all together on the ground to eat. And many would chew coca leaves while socializing; that custom is called acullicar in the Quechua language.
CloseMain Courtyard
This was a work space, where animals were often loaded and unloaded, then kept in the animal pen for the one or two days of the travelers' stay. However, only a few animals were allowed in the courtyard; large caravans of 200–300 llamas would be kept outside the wall.
CloseExternal Wall
The tampu was often surrounded by an external stone wall that provided protection for the keepers, visitors, and their animals. These also helped to further secure any civilian supplies or military stores that were kept within the structure.
CloseTampus: Roadside Lodging
These constructions were specially equipped for travelers along the Inka Road. Different-sized tampus were designed to accommodate royalty, llama caravans, the military, or other users of the road. Thousands of tampus were scattered all over the empire. Drawing of tampu by Alfonso Núñez Rebaza.
Lodging Room
Stone structures with roofs made of straw provided housing and a resting place for travelers and other official users of the road. One of these structures might also house a small family that was responsible for looking after the tampu: maintaining it, keeping it clean, and restocking for new visitors.
Open Space (Inner Courtyard)
This open space was a domestic area, often used for socializing, cooking, or eating, as there was no kitchen within the lodgings. People often sat all together on the ground to eat. And many would chew coca leaves while socializing; that custom is called acullicar in the Quechua language.
Main Courtyard
This was a work space, where animals were often loaded and unloaded, then kept in the animal pen for the one or two days of the travelers' stay. However, only a few animals were allowed in the courtyard; large caravans of 200–300 llamas would be kept outside the wall.
External Wall
The tampu was often surrounded by an external stone wall that provided protection for the keepers, visitors, and their animals. These also helped to further secure any civilian supplies or military stores that were kept within the structure.