The small town of Pukara holds an ancient settlement from an important civilization of the Andean highlands.

The Pukara culture developed between the years 1,400 and 550 B.C This ancient civilization is characterized by its impressive sculptures and pottery art, as well as for influencing following societies. Pukara Aymara and Quechuan fortress, Hispanicized spellings Pukara, pukará is a defensive hilltop site or fortification built by the prehispanic and historic inhabitants of the central Andean area.

In some cases, these sites acted as temporary fortified refuges during periods of increased conflict, while other sites show evidence of permanent occupation.

[2] Emerging as a major site type during the Late Intermediate Period 1000-1430 AD, the Pukara form was adopted in some areas by the Inca military in contested borderlands of the Inca Empire.