In Perus Pisco Valley, there is a strange alignment of thousands of shallow pits.
Their purpose or function is a mystery.
The feature is locally known as Monte Sierpe (serpent mountain) or Cerro Viruela (smallpox hill).
It is also called by the name Band of Holes.
Since then, very few archeologists have visited the site.
He estimated that there are about 5,000 such graves in the area.
The holes are about three feet across and 20 to 40 inches deep.
Satellite view of Band of Holes.
The Band of Holes is constructed along a road leading from the valley floor to Tambo Colorado.
Stanish explains that Inca state was a far-flung empire, and its separate regions retained some autonomy.
Monte Sierpe may have satisfied a very local need.
Jean-Pierre Protzen, a specialist in Inca architecture at the University of California, disagrees.
He thinks the holes may have been used to store guano, an important fertilizer.
The fact is, we still dont know who created the holes or why.
Photo: Paul Catacora
Photo: Nils Castro
