Jaén, Peru

Jaen has a warm climate all year round. It is one of the warmest cities in Peru, but does have frequent and refreshing showers.

The origin of the city dates back to the Late Horizon period, between 1,000 and 1,500 B.C, larger settlements were located in the valleys of the present provinces of Jaén, Bagua and San Ignacio.

In the valley of Jaén there lies the great archaeological site Montegrande, with the presence of mounds and pottery styles of Pre-Chavin cultures and the Turuco, immense pre-Columbian cemetery located in Bellavista, Ingatambo in Pomahuaca. Similar sites are located in the valleys of Chamaya, Shumba, Tabaconas, Chinchipe and Utcubamba.

In 2010, two ancient pyramid complexes were discovered near the town of Jaen. The largest mound, over an acre at its base, was found by Peruvian archaeologist, Quirino Olivera. He found evidence of massive stone constructions. Walls were up to three feet thick. Also he found ramps and other constructions stretching back to at least 800 BC,[3] or maybe 2,000 BC.[4]

The excavations were carried out under a joint program between Peru and Ecuador, that investigates the basins of the rivers of Mayo, Chinchipe, Marañón, Utcubamba and Puyango-Tumbes.

Early Ceremonial Architecture dating to 800-100 B.C. was also discovered in the Peru's high jungle, known in Spanish as ceja de selva. This was at Huayurco, Jaén Region, and it was studied by archaeologist Ryan Clasby.[5]

According to him, Huayurco played a significant role in long-distance interregional trade between Andean and Amazonian cultures happening between 1800–200 BC. Huayurco is remarkable for producing some unusual and unique stone bowls on a large scale. Over 250 examples of these bowls are now presented in the local museum. By producing and trading these bowls, Huayurco found an important role for itself in the long-distance exchange networks.[6]

More recently (2022), the Jaén stone vessel tradition, and its participation within the Andean interaction spheres has been updated to between 2500 and 800 BC.[7]

In these bountiful lands of north-east Peru, the Jivaro culture, whose ethnicity belonged to the Huánbucos and the Patagonians, flourished. They settled in the Chuquimayo Valley, Chinchipe.

The Incas attempted to bring the Jivaro under their influence, but were defeated. The Incas called the Jivaro 'Pakamoros' or 'Bracamoros' from the Quechua words 'paka', meaning 'red', and 'muro' meaning 'painted'. This was in reference to the Jivaro custom of painting their face and chest with the red dye of annatto seeds, for ceremonies and battle.

The chronicler Pedro Cieza de León says that the Inca king Huayna Capac attempted to conquer the Bracamoros (Indians), as they called the Jivaros, but was defeated and fled. The historian Cabello de Balboa claims that Huáscar or rather his brother Huanca Auqui, envying the success of Atahualpa in Quijos, he sent Pakamuros up against two expeditions.

Jijón and Caamaño (historians) describe the Bracamoros (or Pakamuros) as Jivaro Indians of strong physical characteristics and an independent, warlike and enterprising spirit. They were a major concern to the Incas, who repeatedly tried - but failed - to subdue them. Instead, by peaceful means, they exerted a notable influence through the present-day Jaén Province and the rest of the north-eastern region.

The first of the Spanish Conquistadors to venture into this part of north-east Peru was Captain Pedro Vergara, who is considered the discoverer for the Spaniards of the region of the tribe of the Bracamoros (Pakamuros), and the Yahuarsongo, in an area of a hundred leagues, succeeding in subjugating the tribes through relentless and savage military campaigning.

By the year 1607, the location of the city of Jaén de Bracamoros had changed four times, before finally settling just north of the Marañón-Huancabamba junction in the small valley of Tomependa.

This Jaén de Bracamoros grew into an important center of outreach and missionary work, and was appointed the capital of the district by the Council of the Indies.

The most important industry at the time were metal workshops, where tools such as machetes and axes, which were vital in a region where you had to continually cut down trees and branches, were forged.

On June 4, 1821, a public meeting was held in Jaen's main square, which included delegates from the city and surrounding districts, including Chirinos, San Ignacio, Colasay and Tomependa. At the meeting, those attending declared the independence of Jaén de Bracamoros from the Royal Audience of Quito and Spain. This was then ratified by the Governor, D. Juan Antonio Checa. This act earned Jaen the title of Cuna de Peruanidad ('Birthplace of Peruvian-ness').

Initially, Jaen belonged to Trujillo Region, then La Libertad, and finally Cajamarca, after its creation in 1855.