Experts Uncovered A Giant 2,300-Year-Old Structure In The Desert, And It’s Causing Quite A Stir
Thirteen imposing stone towers. Two observation platforms. One temple with a mysterious purpose. And defensive walls to ward off unwanted guests… We’re talking about the archaeological site at Chankillo in Peru, which baffled experts for more than 100 years. Their first thought was that the awe-inspiring complex was a place for cult rituals, but when they finally uncovered the truth, they realized they couldn’t have been more wrong.
As old as time
It’s even more mind-blowing when you consider the Chankillo complex was constructed about 2,300 years ago. Modern-day people have also been aware of the incredible stone towers since at least the 19th century. But it actually took a 21st-century study to finally figure out their actual purpose.
Research in ruins
“It seems extraordinary that nobody really recognized [the towers] for what they were for so long,” the University of Leicester’s Professor Clive Ruggles told the BBC in 2007. That’s particularly strange when you consider just how impressive the site is. “I was gobsmacked when I saw them for the first time,” Ruggles added. And he wouldn’t have been alone.
Towering achievement
The Chankillo complex is found in the desert of the Casma Valley on the coast of Peru. To give you a sense of its extraordinary size, it occupies a massive 1.5 square miles of land — that’s about 726 football fields. And those perplexing 13 towers are of considerable bulk, too.
13 Towers
The towers are on the crest of a small hill in Chankillo. They’re all rectangular and stand between 6 and 20 feet tall. And even though they’re thousands of years old, they’re still in pretty good shape. But it’s the way the towers are arranged and accessed that makes them so interesting.
