The recently discovered structure predates the famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu by approximately 3,500 years and was constructed long before the Inca Empire and its predecessors, as confirmed by a team of archaeologists. Ukupe Cultural Landscape Archaeological Project.
Newly discovered archaeological remains at La Otra Banda, Cerro las Animas, Peru, include carvings of mythical bird creatures. Image courtesy of Ukpe Cultural Landscape Archaeological Project.
“It was an amazing find. It speaks to the early origins of religion in Peru,” said Dr Muro Inoñan, an archaeologist at Peru’s National Archaeological Institute. The Field Museum.
“We still know very little about how and under what circumstances complex belief systems emerged in the Andes, but we now have evidence of some of the earliest religious spaces that people were creating in the region.”
“I don’t know what these people called themselves, or what other people called them.”
Dr. Inonhán and his team discovered a new archaeological site in La Otra Banda, Peru, in 2023.
They chose a section roughly 10 meters by 33 feet (10 meters by 33 feet) and began slowly removing sediment that had accumulated over thousands of years.
Just 1.8 metres (6 feet) deep, remnants of an ancient wall made of mud and clay were found.
“It was quite a surprise to see these very ancient structures so close to the modern surface,” Dr Inonyan said.
As archaeologists dug deeper, they found evidence that a temple once stood on the site.
“It appears that a huge temple was built on the slope of the mountain and parts of it have been discovered,” Dr Inonyan said.
“One of the most exciting things we found was a small theater with a backstage area and a staircase leading up to a stage-like platform.”
“It may have been used for a ritualistic performance before a selected audience.”
Archaeologists discovered an intricately carved clay slab depicting a bird-like creature next to the theater’s steps.
“It’s a very beautiful and at the same time an interesting design of a mythical creature – it looks like an anthropomorphic bird but also has reptilian features,” Dr Inonyan said.
“This figure stood out to us because it gives us important clues about when this temple was built and how this structure relates to other ancient temples built by earlier groups in the Andes.”
“Statues of mythical creatures similar to the one our team found have been found in Peru, where archaeologists have Initial PeriodThat’s about 4,000 years ago.”
“Despite the name, they were not the first people to inhabit this area. People have lived in Peru for 15,000 years.”
“Around 5000 to 3000 BCE, during a period known as the Pre-Pottery Period, people along the Peruvian coast began to develop societies and complex political systems.”
“Then came the Early Period, which began around 2000 BCE and lasted until 900 BCE.”
“The early stage is important because it’s when we first start to see evidence of institutionalized religion in Peru.”
“The bird creatures in this temple resemble figures known from the Chavin region from about 500 years later. This new site may help shed light on the origins of this religion.”
Source: www.sci.news
