Peru’s 5,200 Mysterious Holes May Be A Lost Market From Centuries Ago
Peru’s 5,200 Mysterious Holes May Be A Lost Market From Centuries Ago
US · Published Nov 26, 2025
Approximate 5,200 holes in Peru's Pisco Valley were likely a pre-Inca Chincha marketplace 600–700 years ago.
The holes' patterns resemble Inca record-keeping, possibly used for tracking resources.
Drone imagery and pollen analysis support the theory of a barter marketplace active into the colonial era.
Aligned holes in Peru's Pisco Valley
A vast stretch of approximately 5,200 aligned holes in Peru’s Pisco Valley has confounded researchers for decades, but recent advancements in drone imagery and pollen analysis are shedding light on their origins. Evidence suggests these holes were created 600–700 years ago, likely by the pre-Inca Chincha people. The emerging theory indicates that the site served as a bustling barter marketplace.
Related News