Two professors at the University of Wyoming, renowned for their expertise in anthropology, have unearthed a remarkable archaeological discovery in the heart of Andean South America. Nestled within the picturesque Cajamarca Basin of northern Peru lies the Callacpuma archaeological site, where Associate Professor Jason Toohey and Professor Melissa Murphy have unveiled one of the earliest circular plazas in the region.
This extraordinary find showcases monumental megalithic architecture, characterized by the ingenious use of large stones placed upright without mortar—an architectural technique previously unseen in the Andean landscape. Professor Toohey, leading the project since its inception in 2015, alongside Professor Murphy, embarked on a journey to unravel the mysteries of this ancient plaza. Their meticulous excavations within the plaza, commencing in 2018, revealed a treasure trove of artifacts shedding light on the past, while charcoal samples provided crucial insights into its age.
Their groundbreaking research, culminating in the publication titled “A Monumental Stone Plaza at 4750 BP in the Cajamarca Valley of Peru” in Science Advances, unveils a pivotal moment in the history of the Americas. Radiocarbon dating places the plaza’s initial construction approximately 4,750 years ago, during the Late Preceramic Period, making it one of the earliest instances of such architectural marvels in the continent’s annals.
To comprehend the significance of this timeline, the team meticulously excavated the plaza, meticulously documenting and analyzing every artifact and charcoal sample in the laboratory. The findings indicate that this circular plaza predates iconic structures such as the Great Pyramids of Egypt and stands contemporaneous with the enigmatic Stonehenge in England—a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of ancient civilizations.
Spanning about 60 feet in diameter, the plaza is delineated by two concentric walls, exuding a sense of grandeur and ceremonial importance. Professor Toohey suggests that it likely served as a focal point for gatherings and rituals among the early inhabitants of the Cajamarca Valley, who were transitioning from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to sedentary agrarian communities.
Leading the charge alongside Toohey is Patricia Chirinos Ogata from the University of California-Santa Barbara, spearheading a collaborative effort that transcends disciplinary boundaries. The team comprises undergraduate and graduate students from Peru and the United States, embodying a holistic approach to archaeological inquiry.
Toohey, an anthropological archaeologist with over two decades of fieldwork experience in the Peruvian Andes, advocates for community engagement and the preservation of cultural heritage. Murphy, a distinguished biological anthropologist, brings her expertise in bioarchaeology to the table, emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration as the cornerstone of anthropological research.
As ambassadors of scientific inquiry, Toohey and his team actively engage with local communities to raise awareness about the significance of cultural heritage. By fostering partnerships with residents and stakeholders, they strive to ensure the preservation and continued exploration of the Callacpuma site for generations to come.
Source: University of Wyoming