The Mystery of the Ancient Cloud People of Peru: The Chachapoyas | Ancient Architects

The Cloud People of Peru, also known as the Chachapoyas are still a real mystery to the history of South America, due to the fact they had no form of writing, were conquered by the Inca, who were then in turn conquered by the Spanish, but there is little doubt that this lost civilisation was important and powerful. Until archaeological excavations, some of which were very recent, all we really had were a few mentions of this lost culture by Spanish chroniclers, which made claims, not just about their struggles with the Inca, but also their ethnicity. Were the Chachapoyas white-skinned and fair haired? Or is this just some Spanish propaganda, fanciful details without merit? The Chachapoya culture flourished around 800 AD, predating the Inca by over six centuries. They lived in the Northern highlands of Peru and their population may have peaked at half a million, a culture with powerful shamen and a tough fighting ethos.