A mysterious Inca-era monument consisting of roughly 5,200 holes high up in the Andes may have been a site for barter and accounting hundreds of years ago,a new study suggests.
The holes are laid out in ordered grids on Monte Sierpe (“Serpent Mountain”) in the southern Peruvian Andes. The site may have been constructed between A.D. 1000 and 1400 as a place of exchange under the powerful Chincha Kingdom, which had a population of more than 100,000 people, according to the study. When the kingdom was conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century, the “Band of Holes” site may have been repurposed to collect tribute and taxes from local groups, the authors suggested.
Archaeologists made the finding after analyzing the thousands of holes with drone technology, which enabled the team to detect “mathematical patterning in the layout of the holes” – meaning they were organized into sections and blocks reminiscent of accounting and record-keeping methods of the time. The researchers also analyzed samples taken from the holes, study co-author Charles Stanisha professor of anthropology at the University of South Florida, said in a statement.
Band of Holes
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Monte Sierpe’s mysterious holes are arranged in a long band, split into blocks of a few tens of divots. Altogether, the band is 0.9 miles (1.5 kilometers) long.Each hole is between 3 to 6 feet (1 and 2 meters) across and up to 3 feet (1 m) deep.
Ancient Andean Marketplace Discovered in Peru, Potentially Linked to Inca Accounting System
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a large, ancient marketplace high in the Peruvian Andes, offering new insights into pre-Inca and Inca trade and administrative practices. The site, known as Monte Sierpe, features a complex arrangement of circular depressions in the ground, which researchers believe were used for bartering and potentially for a sophisticated accounting system linked to the Inca khipu – knotted string record-keeping devices.The finding sheds light on how communities interacted and managed resources in the ancient Andes.
Discovery and location of Monte Sierpe
The site of Monte Sierpe is located in the Huarmey Valley, approximately 160 miles (257 kilometers) north of Lima, Peru. Drone imagery initially revealed the unusual pattern of holes, prompting further investigation by a team led by researchers from the University of Calgary and the Peruvian Ministry of Culture [https://www.ucalgary.ca/news/ancient-andean-marketplace-discovered-peru]. The site’s remote and elevated location suggests it was strategically chosen to facilitate trade between different communities.
The Mysterious Holes and Their Connection to Inca Khipus
The most striking feature of Monte Sierpe is the presence of hundreds of circular depressions,ranging in diameter from 1 to 6.5 feet (0.3 to 2 meters). These holes are arranged in blocks, and researchers believe they served as individual stalls or spaces for vendors.
Intriguingly,the arrangement of these holes bears a striking resemblance to the layout of khipus [https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/deciphering-these-mysterious-strings-how-reading-the-incas-knotted-cords-can-reveal-past-droughts-and-deluges]. khipus were complex systems of knotted cords used by the Inca to record numerical data, historical events, and potentially even narratives.
“The drone images showed that the arrangement of holes at the site bore similarities to Incan khipus,” explained Dr. Bongers, a lead researcher on the project. previous archaeological finds have revealed khipus alongside similar gridded arrangements in Inca storage facilities, leading researchers to hypothesize that Monte Sierpe may have been used to count and sort goods traded at the marketplace. Variations in the number of holes within each block could represent different tribute levels or quantities of goods from various towns.
Evidence of Pre-Inca and Inca Activity
Radiocarbon dating of materials found at the site indicates that Monte Sierpe was in use for centuries, begining around 200 BCE and continuing through the Inca period (1400-1533 CE) [https://www.ucalgary.ca/news/ancient-andean-marketplace-discovered-peru]. This suggests the site served as a crucial trading hub for multiple cultures over a long period.
The presence of both pre-Inca and Inca artifacts indicates a continuity of trade and social interaction in the region. The Inca likely adapted and expanded upon existing trade networks, incorporating Monte Sierpe into their larger administrative system.
Implications for understanding Andean Economies and Management
The discovery of Monte Sierpe provides valuable insights into the economic and administrative practices of ancient Andean societies. It demonstrates the importance of marketplaces as centers of exchange and social interaction.
“This study contributes an significant Andean case study on how past communities modified past landscapes to bring people together and promote interaction,” said Bongers. “Our findings expand our understanding of barter marketplaces and the origins and diversity of Indigenous accounting practices within and beyond the ancient Andes.”
The site also highlights the sophistication of Inca accounting methods.The potential link between the arrangement of holes and khipus suggests that the Inca were able to efficiently manage and track goods traded at the marketplace, contributing to the stability and prosperity of their empire.
Key Takeaways:
* Monte Sierpe is a newly discovered ancient marketplace in the Peruvian Andes.
* The site’s layout,with its circular depressions,may be linked to the Inca khipu accounting system.
* The marketplace was used for centuries, from around 200 BCE through the Inca period.
* The discovery provides insights into Andean trade, economic practices, and administrative capabilities.
FAQ:
Q: What is a khipu?
A: A khipu is a recording device used by the Inca and other Andean cultures. It consists of knotted strings made from cotton or wool, used to record numerical data, historical data, and potentially narratives.
Q: How was Monte Sierpe discovered?
A: The site was initially identified through drone imagery, which revealed the unusual pattern of circular depressions.
Q: What does the discovery of Monte Sierpe tell us about the Inca?
A: It suggests