'Condor's Passageway': 3,000-Year-Old Archeological Site Unearthed In Peru

Archaeologists in Peru have recently discovered a sealed corridor branded as the "condor's passageway," which is believed to be aging around 3,000-years-old.

A report in India Times said that the corridor could likely lead to other chambers inside a massive temple complex that shows the ancient Chavin culture.

The Chavin de Huantar archeological site is considered as among the culture's most important centers, thriving from around 1,500-550 B.C. The place is situated around 190 miles or 306 kilometers northeast of Lima.

According to a Reuters report, the latest discoveries have focused on the hallway inside a southern portion of the temple, which was sealed due to what archaeologists believed as its structural weakness.

At present, this gives a glimpse about the early days of the Chavin.

The condor, one of the largest birds in the world, was associated with power and prosperity during the ancient Andean cultures. 

What is Chavin

The UNESCO World Heritage Convention said the site, which is a former place of worship, was one of the earliest and best-known pre-Columbian sites.

Its appearance is striking as it possesses a complex of terraces and squares, which are surrounded by structures of dressed stone as well as some zoomorphic ornamentation.

Chavin, a pilgrimage center for the Andean religious world, had hosted individuals from different latitudes, distances and languages. This has become a significant area of ideological, cultural and religious convergence and dissemination around a cult spread over a wide territory of the Andes.

The Reuters report said that a large ceramic piece, which weights around 37 pounds or 17 kilogram, decorated with what appears to be a condor's head and wings was found in the passageway. A ceramic bowl was also seen there.

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Effects of natural phenomenon

Experts said that the cultural nature of the archaeological site has been noticeable in its architectural, technological and symbolic creation that is often characterized by coated quarried stone buildings and artificial terraces around plazas.

Despite being affected of the natural phenomenon, the site's original shapes and materials of the different construction stages have been preserved.

Its wholeness and visual integrity as well as its landscape did not encounter any substantial changes as proven by the continuation of traditional agricultural activities in the nearby areas.

Studies have shown that environmental agents could be the most significant factor that affected the preservation of the archaeological site's integrity. To emphasize, those who conduct studies on Chavin have said the natural phenomenon could have resulted in the deterioration of the structures of the pilgrimage center through time.

Those that affected it were the landslides in the galleries, drains, and some internal vents. Further, floods from glacial lakes also had impact to this as well as powerful earthquakes that had high magnitude and intensity.

Laws stated that the management and protection of the Chavin Archaeological Site should be ensured by the Ministry of Culture on behalf of the government of Peru.

The Ministry of Culture had already crafted a management plan, which indicates the necessary items to meet basic needs and develop permanent projects required for protecting, preserving and restoring the site.

Aside from that, the research and preservation activities for the site are supported by private groups and institutions.

Related Article: Secret Passageways Used by Ancient Andean Culture Opened for the 1st Time in 3000 Years

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