Chaviña Pampa Central Plateau Geoglyphs (Meseta Central)
Chaviña Meseta Central · Pampa Colorada Central
Early Intermediate (200 BCE–600 CE)·Huarpa·🇵🇪 Ayacucho, Lucanas, Chaviña District central plateau between north ridge and south sector, Peru
About
About Chaviña Pampa Central Plateau Geoglyphs (Meseta Central)
Central meseta (3,280 m) bisecting Chaviña Pampa between previously documented north ridge and south sector. Sixteen figures on flat reddish pediment: 25-m double trapezoids sharing a common apex, 18-m fox with curled tail, and 120-m straight avenue to Chaviña spring. Pediment gravel 4–8 cm with 10-cm pale silt floor; alignments respect prevailing SE wind. Huarpa Black-on-White sherds banked in curb. Drone 2022 mapped 2.8 km lines; road to Utek cuts one trapezoid.
Why it mattersKey geoglyph illustrating Huarpa hydraulic/geoglyph/kite/kurgan tradition in Ayacucho, Lucanas, Chaviña District central plateau between north ridge and south sector.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Double trapezoid shared apex function
Theories
- 01Water pilgrimage to Chaviña spring
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.200 BCE–600 CE
- Period
- Early Intermediate (200 BCE–600 CE)
- Culture
- Huarpa
- Purpose
- Central plateau ceremonial way on puna
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.200 BCE–600 CE
Initial construction
2020
Drone/UAV high-resolution mapping and heritage inventory
On the ground
Structures & features
14.9750° S · 73.8400° W · 3280 m · 4 mapped features
Double Trapezoid Apex (25 m)
geoglyphTwin 25-m trapezoids sharing apex
14.9740° S · 73.8390° WCurled-Tail Fox (18 m)
geoglyph18-m fox with spiral tail
14.9760° S · 73.8410° WCentral Avenue to Spring (120 m)
earthwork120-m avenue toward spring
14.9740° S · 73.8390° WBasalt Curb Mound
earthwork20-cm basalt curb windbreak
14.9730° S · 73.8380° W