Qenko

{{short description|Archaeological site in Peru}}

{{for|the archaeological site in the Puno Region, Peru|Q'inq'u{{!}}Q'inq'u}}

{{Infobox ancient site

| name = Q'enqo

| native_name =

| alternate_name = Qenqo, Qenko, Kenko, Quenco

| image = 10.24 Cusco Q'enqo-18.jpg

| image_size = 280px

| alt =

| caption = Monoliths at Qenko

| map_type = Peru

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| relief = yes

| coordinates = {{coord|13|30|38|S|71|58|18|W|display=inline,title}}

| location = {{PER}}
Cusco

| region =

| type = Temple

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| abandoned =

| epochs = Late Horizon

| cultures = Inca

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}}

Q'enqo,[https://www.cusco.info/saqsaywaman.htm Cusco Info - Saqsaywaman] Qenko,{{Cite book|title=Peru|last=Legault|first=Alain|date=1999|publisher=Ulysses Travel Guides|isbn=9782894641224|pages=196|language=en}}{{Cite book|title=Traveler's Companion Peru|last=Yogerst|first=Joe|last2=Mellin|first2=Maribeth|date=1999|publisher=Globe Pequot Press|isbn=9780762703609|pages=134|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://ficha.sigmincetur.mincetur.gob.pe/index.aspx?cod_Ficha=906|title=SITIO ARQUELÓGICO DE QENKO|publisher=MINCETUR|language=es|access-date=2017-05-30}}{{Cite book|title=DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Peru|last=Kennedy|first=Maryanne|date=2008|publisher=Penguin|isbn=9780756650667|pages=165|language=en}}{{Cite book|title=The Rough Guide to Peru|last=Jenkins|first=Dilwyn|date=2003|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=9781843530749|pages=138|language=en}} Kenko,{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/historyincasjoer00gamb|url-access=registration|title=The History of the Incas|last=Sarmiento de Gamboa|first=Pedro|last2=Bauer|first2=Brian S.|last3=Smith|first3=Vania|date=2007|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=9780292714854|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyincasjoer00gamb/page/n173 155], 233|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/peru0000gaul/page/55|title=Peru|last=Gauldie|first=Robin|date=2006|publisher=New Holland Publishers|isbn=9781845373887|pages=[https://archive.org/details/peru0000gaul/page/55 55]|language=en}}{{Cite book|title=Memory Landscapes of the Inka Carved Outcrops|last=Christie|first=Jessica Joyce|date=2015|publisher=Lexington Books|isbn=9780739194898|pages=62, 69|language=en}}{{Cite book|title=A Culture of Stone: Inka Perspectives on Rock|last=Dean|first=Carolyn J.|date=2010|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=0822393174|language=en}} or Quenco{{Cite book|title=Peru 1:100 000, Cusco (28-s)|publisher=IGN (Instituto Geográfico Nacional - Perú)}} (all from Quechua for "zig-zag")Teofilo Laime Ajacopa, Diccionario Bilingüe, Iskay simipi yuyayk'ancha, Quechua – Castellano, Castellano – Quechua (Quechua-Spanish dictionary) is an archaeological site in the Sacred Valley of Peru located in the Cusco Region, Cusco Province, Cusco District, about 6 km north east of Cusco. The site was declared a Cultural Heritage (Patrimonio Cultural) of the Cusco Region by the National Institute of Culture.

It is one of the largest huacas (holy places) in the Cusco Region. Many huacas were based on naturally occurring rock formations. It was believed to be a place where sacrifices and mummification took place.{{cite book |title=Incas: lords of gold and glory |publisher=Time-Life Books |location=New York |year=1992 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/incaslordsofgold00time/page/143 143] |isbn=0-8094-9870-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/incaslordsofgold00time/page/143 }}

A tunnel runs inside the huaca with a large gutter on one side, leading to a room containing a ceremonial table with niches on either side. The discovery of many bones within the gutter leads experts to believe this room was the site of ritual sacrifices. One of the niches was used to place mummies while another contained a large silver plate which reflected the sun's rays into the room.