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The Ichma or Yschma culture was a pre-Incan indigenous culture, located south of Lima, Peru in the Lurin valley; it later spread north into the Rimac valley. The Ichma culture was formed around 1100 AD following the breakup of the Wari Empire. It lasted until around 1440 when they were absorbed into the Incan Empire.
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History
With the breakup of the Wari Empire, several small kingdoms and confederations were created. Over time, two cultures came to dominate the region, the Chancay culture to the north of Lima, and the Ichma culture to the south.
The Ichma people were an Aymara-speaking people that came to inhabit the coastal areas near Lima following the collapse of the Wari empire.
The Ichma people inhabited Pachacamac and continued the growth and influence of the city. The Ichma people constructed at least 16 pyramids in Pachacamac, and built or remodeled more structures in the Lima area. Among these are the Huaca Huantille in the Magdalena del Mar district, the Huaca Mateo Salado in Lima's district of Pueblo Libre, the Huaca San Borja in the San Borja District, and the Huaca San Miguel, in the ancient city of Maranga in the San Miguel District. Additionally, archeological sites in Puruchuco and Cajamarquilla have been ascribed to the Ichma people.
Archaeology
A number of cultural and human remains have been discovered in various Ichma sites. In the Huaca Huantille, at least 9 mummies have been discovered, buried with ceramic items and jewelry crafted from copper, silver, and gold. In 2012, excavation in the Pachacamac site yielded a burial chamber with more than 80 mummified remains, and a dozen infant remains. Along with the skeletons, this site also contained various artifacts, including ceramic wares, jewelry, and animal remains.
Collapse of the Ichma
When the Inca Empire expanded into this region, the cultures of the Ichma and the Chancay people, along with smaller cultures, were absorbed into the Inca Empire.