Drone Mapping Reveals Insights into Peru's Mysterious Band of Holes

A team of researchers led by digital archaeologist Jacob Bongers has successfully mapped over 5,000 aligned holes at Monte Sierpe in southern Peru's Pisco Valley using drone technology. This formation, known as the Band of Holes, exhibits similarities to an Inca khipu, an ancient accounting device made of knotted string, that was also found in the same valley.

The team's analysis of soil samples from the holes revealed the presence of maize pollen and traces of reeds, which were historically used for weaving baskets. Bongers hypothesizes that the pre-Inca Chincha Kingdom's inhabitants may have transported plants to this site in baskets, suggesting that this location served as a hub for merchants, fisherfolk, and cotton farmers to conduct trade.

The pre-Hispanic population in this area was estimated to be around 100,000 people. Under Inca rule, researchers believe the site may have functioned as a type of landscape khipu, given its strategic placement between highlands and coastal plains, and its proximity to two Inca administrative sites and a network of pre-Hispanic roads.

Bongers raises important questions about this monument's uniqueness, noting that similar structures are not found throughout the Andes. This discovery highlights the importance of utilizing modern technologies like drones in archaeological research, as they provide new insights into the purposes and significance of ancient structures.

The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the social and economic interactions among ancient civilizations in the region. For further details on this study, the original scholarly article can be found in Antiquity.

To explore more about the Band of Holes, visit the article titled 'An Overlooked Inca Wonder.'