Dozens of circular-shaped geoglyphs discovered in Peru

An approach of a combination of satellite imagery, aerial photography by drones and ground surveys lead to a discovery of dozens of new geoglyphs in at Quilcapampa, in the Sihuas Valley, Peru.

Geoglyphs and cairns at Quilcapampa (by Live Science)
Geoglyphs and cairns at Quilcapampa on an aerial picture (by Live Science)

The geoglyphs take the shape of geometric shapes, mostly rings. The smaller ones are visible on the ground, but the larger ones can only be fully revealed from above. They also vary in size, from between 2-6 metres in diameter while others cover up to even 800 square metres. Many of the new geoglyphs have simple one-ring designs, while others are more complex, forming even at least six rings in an irregular patter. Moreover, some of the geoglyphs contain rock piles called cairns located beside or within them.

Circular geoglyph at Quilcapampa (by Live Science)
Circular geoglyph at Quilcapampa (by Live Science)

The geoglyphs were created by removing stones to expose the sandy soil below. They are said to have been created in the Late Intermediate Period dating to between 1050 – 1400 AD. It was a time when Quilcapampa flourished benefiting from the flow of people and goods through the town.

(after Live Science)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.