4,000-year-old cones of ancient pyramid builders found in Peru

4,000-year-old cones of ancient pyramid builders found in Peru
4,000-year-old cones of ancient pyramid builders found in Peru
Anonim

Peruvian researchers excavating at the Sechin archaeological site in the province of Kasma have discovered five conical adobas - 4,000-year-old building blocks, on which the handprints of ancient builders are well preserved.

The find was reported by the Andina agency. It was made in the ancient city of Sechin, located at an altitude of 90 meters above sea level, five kilometers from the modern city of Kasma, the center of the province of the same name.

This monument was discovered in 1937 by the Peruvian archaeologist Julio Tello. The peculiarity of the city is that its main buildings were built of conical adobes - huge bricks made of raw clay.

During excavations, archaeologists discovered five such blocks at once, made around 2000 BC. That is, their age is approximately 4000 years. This makes them the oldest such artifact known to science.

According to Monica Suarez Ubillus, head of the Sechin archaeological project, this type of adob is the earliest found at monumental sites in the Peruvian coastal zone.

A great success for scientists can be called the handprints left by the ancient builders. Archaeologists assume that they did it on purpose - for example, for ritual purposes, in order to leave their mark on the sacred structure and spiritually participate in the rituals carried out in it.

The fact is that the conical adobe was discovered during the examination of the pyramidal structure, which has 11 steps. Probably, the blocks were supposed to be used for its construction. Perhaps they were simply superfluous. The building itself, according to scientists, was intended for ceremonies.

“We feel great pride and excitement,” says Monica Suarez. “We have found very valuable evidence that will allow us to rethink hypotheses about the emergence of ceremonial architecture in pre-Columbian America. In addition, their study will help us understand the role of the city of Sechin in the history of the birth and development of early society..

By the way, the discovered conical adobe will be transferred to the regional museum of Kasma.

Recommended: