Municipal Archaeological Museum

Santa Fe St. no number
Humahuaca Cultural Center
Tel. No. 0887-21199
Open Mondays through Sundays from 8:30a.m. to 2:30p.m.;
during winter holidays from 8:30a.m. to 3:30p.m.

This museum exhibits a collection of objects belonging to pre-Hispanic cultures, particularly those located in the Humahuaca area, since they were the region's primitive inhabitants. Exhibits include spearheads, earthenware pieces, ceramic objects and utensils used in everyday life. One must bear in mind that this area was inhabited by the "Omaguaca" Indians who were later dominated by the Incas and, finally, by the Spaniards. The pieces exhibited evidence the changes that took place in the lifestyle of the members of these overlapping cultures.

Humahuaca
The town of Humahuaca is located 126km. away from the city of San Salvador de Jujuy and lies 2,939m above sea level. It is on national route No. 9 and is one of the regions where one can appreciate genuine picturesque carnival celebrations and the cult to the "Pachamama" or mother earth. Houses are built of adobe and streets are very narrow. Noteworthy town buildings are its church, the town hall - seat of the old "Cabildo" - that has a clock weighing 1,800kg., which makes it one of the largest in South America, and contains an image of St. Francisco Solano that emerges at 12 o'clock noon and blesses the public. Facing the town hall is the Independence Monument depicting a running "chasqui" (native messenger). The sculpture is made of bronze and weighs 60 tons.