Decoding Peru’s “Band of Holes”: Marketplace or Inca Accounting System?
A centuries-old mystery in Peru thousands of aligned holes carved into hillsides may finally be solved. New research suggests it was not alien or defensive, but a remarkable Indigenous system for trade and bookkeeping.
For decades, archaeologists and enthusiasts have wondered about a strange formation high in Peru’s Pisco Valley: the Band of Holes, also known as Monte Sierpe. Stretching nearly 1.5 kilometers, this band contains more than 5,000 circular pits, each carved and arranged with care. Recent studies suggest a new and powerful theory: these holes may have served as both a pre-Inca trading hub and an Inca-era accounting system.
1. Mapping the Mystery with Drones
Using high-resolution drone imagery, researchers found that the pits are not random. They are grouped into mathematical patterns, with clusters of holes following consistent numerical structures. These formations look like a khipu, the Inca system of knotted strings used for record-keeping. This suggests the site may have functioned as a physical ledger carved into the landscape.
2. Botanical Clues: What the Soil Reveals
To learn more about the shapes, scientists collected sediment from many of the holes. Their analysis found traces of maize (corn) and plants used by ancient Andean people for weaving baskets. These findings suggest that goods possibly food, textiles, or bundles carried in baskets were deposited in the pits. Over time, as the Inca Empire grew, the site may have shifted from a marketplace to a center for collecting tribute or keeping accounts.
3. From Market to Ledger
Researchers now suggest a two-phase history for the site:
Pre-Inca Era: A barter marketplace where traders met to exchange goods like maize, cotton, or woven items.
Inca Period: Repurposed as a tribute and accounting system, with the holes acting like rows and columns in a giant ledger.
Because Monte Sierpe lies between important Inca administrative centers and along ancient trade routes, its location was ideal for such a system.
4. Why This Discovery Matters
Debunking Myths: For years, people speculated wildly, from alien landing sites to water-collection systems. This new explanation roots the site in human social and economic history.
Indigenous Innovation: It shows how Andean societies used the landscape, trade, and record-keeping in complex and creative ways.
New Archaeological Method: This study highlights how drones and microbotanical analysis can reveal ancient secrets that were previously hidden.
Cultural Respect: By attributing the site to Indigenous practices rather than sensationalist theories, researchers restore an important piece of Andean heritage.
5. Questions Still Left Behind
Despite the breakthrough, researchers note that many details remain unclear:
Who built the original holes: pre-Inca Chincha groups or the Inca?
What goods were stored, and how often were the pits used?
How did the use change over time? Were all sections used for the same purpose?
Are there related sites elsewhere in the Andes that follow similar patterns?
Conclusion: A Landscape Transformed by Trade and Memory
The Band of Holes is no longer just a strange formation. It may be one of the most fascinating examples of ancient social accounting and economic interaction in the Andes. Far from alien myths, it now appears to be a site that connected people through trade and record-keeping, shaped by the creativity of pre-Inca and Inca civilizations.
As archaeology embraces new tools like drone mapping and microbotany, the hills of Monte Sierpe are finally beginning to share their story one hole at a time.
Source: CNN