Archaeologists solve mystery of Peru’s “Band of Holes”: an “extraordinary” discovery

For more than 100 years, researchers have puzzled over a stretch of hillside in Peru filled with thousands of carved holes. Now, archaeologists from the University of Sydney believe they have cracked the code of the so-called “Band of Holes,” a site spanning nearly 1 mile along the edges of the Pisco Valley on Mount Sierpe.

Evidence suggests these thousands of pits may have functioned as an indigenous trading and accounting system, possibly dating back to the 14th century.

Searching for answers

“Why would ancient people carve more than 5,000 holes into the slopes of southern Peru? Were they gardens? Water catchments? Agricultural tools? We don’t know for sure, but our research has produced promising new data that provides important clues and supports new theories about the site’s purpose,” said Dr. Jacob Bongers, lead author and digital archaeologist at the University of Sydney.

Using drones to map the terrain, researchers identified numerical patterns in the placement of the holes, hinting at a hidden function. They also noted that Mount Sierpe’s layout resembles at least one khipu, the Inca knotted string system used for record-keeping, discovered in the same valley.

An extraordinary discovery

Bongers described the findings as “extraordinary,” saying they expand our understanding of indigenous accounting practices both within and beyond the Andes.

Mount Sierpe contains roughly 5,200 shallow pits, each 3 to 6 feet wide and 1.5 to 3 feet deep. Soil analysis revealed ancient corn pollen, a staple of the Andes, along with reeds used for basket-making. Traces of squash, amaranth, cotton, chili peppers, and other crops were also found.

Researchers believe local goods were brought to the site and stored in the pits using baskets or bundled plant fibers, which were replaced periodically.

“Perhaps this was a pre-Inca marketplace, like a community bazaar,” Bongers said. “We know the population here at the time was around 100,000. Mobile traders, specialists like farmers and fishermen, and others may have gathered here to exchange local products like corn and cotton. I see these holes as a type of social technology that connected people, later evolving into a large-scale accounting system under the Inca Empire.”

Still more questions to explore

Bongers added that many mysteries remain. “Why is this monument only found here and not throughout the Andes? Was Mount Sierpe a kind of ‘landscape khipu’? We’re getting closer to understanding this enigmatic site, and it’s incredibly exciting.”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.