Monte Sierpe, a striking arrangement of thousands of precisely aligned holes carved into the foothills of southern Peru, has baffled archaeologists for nearly a century. This unique site, also known as ‘Serpent Mountain,’ is nestled in the Pisco Valley and stretches 1.5 kilometers across the landscape. Now, new research suggests that these mysterious holes may have served not just one but two distinct purposes: a bustling marketplace during pre-Inca times and an elaborate accounting system under Inca rule.
The site consists of some 5,200 individual holes, each about 1 to 2 meters wide and 0.5 to 1 meter deep. Organized into sections or blocks, these holes first caught the attention of the world in 1933 when they appeared in a National Geographic article. Since then, theories have abounded regarding their function, ranging from water collection to defensive structures to even storage for crops or livestock.
Dr. Jacob Bongers, a digital archaeologist at the University of Sydney, and his colleagues employed cutting-edge drone technology to map Monte Sierpe meticulously. This revealed intriguing numerical patterns within the holes’ arrangement, hinting at deliberate planning behind their placement. Even more surprising was the discovery that the layout mirrored the structure of an ancient Inca khipu — a knotted-string device used for recordkeeping and accounting — found in the same valley.
“This unexpected link suggests Monte Sierpe may have functioned as a type of ‘landscape khipu,’” Dr. Bongers explained, emphasizing the site’s potential significance for understanding pre-Columbian accounting practices in the Andes region.
Further analysis of soil samples extracted from within the holes yielded valuable clues. Ancient pollen grains of maize (corn), a staple crop in the Andes, and remnants of reeds historically used for basketry were found. These findings strongly indicate that people deposited bundles of plants—possibly gathered from various areas—into these holes using baskets or other containers.
This discovery points to a vibrant pre-Inca marketplace at Monte Sierpe. Dr. Bongers suggests that traders traveling on foot with llama caravans, seafaring merchants bringing goods from distant shores, specialized farmers and fishermen might have converged at this central location to exchange their wares. The site could have served as a hub for local corn and cotton alongside other agricultural products and crafts.
Under the Inca Empire, Monte Sierpe may have evolved into an elaborate accounting system, perhaps mirroring the functions of the khipu found nearby. Dr. Bongers posits that it facilitated recording and tracking the movement of goods and resources across a vast network spanning hundreds of kilometers.
Despite these intriguing findings, many questions remain. Why is this unusual monument confined to this particular region of Peru and absent from other parts of the Andes? What role did the site play in connecting different social groups and economies?
Dr. Bongers believes that Monte Sierpe’s unique characteristics offer a window into ancient Andean ingenuity and social organization: “It’s very exciting,” he says, “because this is really bringing to light how sophisticated these ancient communities were.”
Further research is necessary to fully unlock the secrets hidden within these seemingly simple holes. As Dr. Bongers suggests, unraveling the mysteries of Monte Sierpe may shed light not only on ancient Andean trade and accounting but also on the broader history of social technologies employed across the globe for millennia.
