Circular Stone Plaza
In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists in Peru have unveiled one of the oldest megalithic structures in the Americas—a circular stone plaza estimated to be around 4,750 years old. Situated at the archaeological site of Callacpuma, approximately 550 kilometres north of Lima, this plaza is believed to have served a ceremonial purpose.
Jason Toohey, an anthropological archaeologist from the University of Wyoming and co-director of the Callacpuma Archaeological Project, expressed his surprise at the identification of this circular megalithic plaza. He noted its uniqueness compared to other circular plazas found in different regions of Peru, highlighting the distinct construction technique utilized at Callacpuma.
Excavations at the site commenced in 2018, uncovering a structure composed of two concentric stone circles with an external diameter of 18 meters. Unlike many contemporary Andean plazas constructed with stone masonry walls, the Callacpuma plaza features megalithic stones placed upright in close proximity, devoid of mortar. The research, published in Science Advances, suggests the plaza might have ceased its ceremonial use between 500 BC and 200 BC.
While local residents had long been aware of the circular plaza’s existence, the Callacpuma Archaeological Project marks the first systematic study of the site through comprehensive mapping and excavation efforts.
Radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples retrieved during excavation places the plaza’s construction approximately a century before Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza and contemporaneously with the construction of Stonehenge in the UK. Toohey remarks that although the Callacpuma plaza isn’t the oldest circular plaza in the Andes, dating back to around 2750 BC, it signifies an early tradition that persisted for nearly 2,000 years.
The construction of circular monumental plazas in the Andes spanned from 3100 BC to 800 BC, with over 100 such structures identified along the central Peruvian coast and in mountainous regions. While the plaza at Callacpuma differs in construction technique, its existence suggests the early dissemination of monumental plaza-building practices into the northern Andes.
The exact function of these circular plazas remains uncertain, though they likely served as communal gathering spaces during a period when local populations were transitioning to settled agricultural lifestyles. Toohey speculates that these monuments could have served to delineate territorial claims or foster social cohesion among disparate groups.
Future research aims to unravel the motivations behind the construction of these ancient stone plazas. Toohey wonders whether visionary leaders or collective efforts spurred their creation, posing questions that promise to deepen our understanding of ancient Andean societies.
X-Heritage (X Heritage)
Geolocation: -7.1696982, -78.4528273
Further Reading: ArtNet
Photo Credits: Jason Toohey
Circular Stone Plaza
In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists in Peru have unveiled one of the oldest megalithic structures in the Americas—a circular stone plaza estimated to be around 4,750 years old. Situated at the archaeological site of Callacpuma, approximately 550 kilometres north of Lima, this plaza is believed to have served a ceremonial purpose.
Jason Toohey, an anthropological archaeologist from the University of Wyoming and co-director of the Callacpuma Archaeological Project, expressed his surprise at the identification of this circular megalithic plaza. He noted its uniqueness compared to other circular plazas found in different regions of Peru, highlighting the distinct construction technique utilized at Callacpuma.
Excavations at the site commenced in 2018, uncovering a structure composed of two concentric stone circles with an external diameter of 18 meters. Unlike many contemporary Andean plazas constructed with stone masonry walls, the Callacpuma plaza features megalithic stones placed upright in close proximity, devoid of mortar. The research, published in Science Advances, suggests the plaza might have ceased its ceremonial use between 500 BC and 200 BC.
While local residents had long been aware of the circular plaza’s existence, the Callacpuma Archaeological Project marks the first systematic study of the site through comprehensive mapping and excavation efforts.
Radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples retrieved during excavation places the plaza’s construction approximately a century before Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza and contemporaneously with the construction of Stonehenge in the UK. Toohey remarks that although the Callacpuma plaza isn’t the oldest circular plaza in the Andes, dating back to around 2750 BC, it signifies an early tradition that persisted for nearly 2,000 years.
The construction of circular monumental plazas in the Andes spanned from 3100 BC to 800 BC, with over 100 such structures identified along the central Peruvian coast and in mountainous regions. While the plaza at Callacpuma differs in construction technique, its existence suggests the early dissemination of monumental plaza-building practices into the northern Andes.
The exact function of these circular plazas remains uncertain, though they likely served as communal gathering spaces during a period when local populations were transitioning to settled agricultural lifestyles. Toohey speculates that these monuments could have served to delineate territorial claims or foster social cohesion among disparate groups.
Future research aims to unravel the motivations behind the construction of these ancient stone plazas. Toohey wonders whether visionary leaders or collective efforts spurred their creation, posing questions that promise to deepen our understanding of ancient Andean societies.
X-Heritage (X Heritage)
Geolocation: -7.1696982, -78.4528273
Further Reading: ArtNet
Photo Credits: Jason Toohey