A recent archaeological discovery in the Andes Mountains of northern Peru has unveiled a stone circle predating the great pyramids of Egypt, believed to have been constructed around 4,750 years ago.
“This plaza is significant because it is a very early example of public, monumental, and megalithic architecture. There are a few slightly earlier examples in the Andes—and many more recent—but this is the earliest and only example like this from the Cajamarca region of northern Peru,” Toohey told Newsweek.
The monument was built using large, free-standing and vertically placed megalithic stones. This construction method has never been reported before in the Andes and is distinct from other monumental plazas in the region, the researchers said.
The circular plaza’s purpose remains a mystery, but its scale and form suggest a ceremonial function, possibly marking a transition to settled life and food production in the region.
Read the article at Newsweek.