Gran Pajatén — Chachapoya Mosaic Round Houses
Chachapoya late (1300–1470 CE)·Chachapoya later Inca fringe·🇵🇪 San Martín, Mariscal Cáceres, Rio Abiseo National Park, Gran Pajatén, hilltop 2850 m, Peru
About
About Gran Pajatén — Chachapoya Mosaic Round Houses
Abiseo Gran Pajatén discovered by Savoy 1963, excavated 1985, mosaic fretwork with human heads, UNESCO 1990 Rio Abiseo. Recorded context — Period: Chachapoya late (1300–1470 CE); Culture: Chachapoya later Inca fringe; Field status: excavated; Materials: slate, limestone, mosaic geometric fretwork; Condition: preserved — UNESCO park limited access.
Why it mattersKey Chachapoya later Inca fringe ancient-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network extent
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Seasonal gathering
- 02Territorial marker
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. 1300 CE
- Period
- Chachapoya late (1300–1470 CE)
- Culture
- Chachapoya later Inca fringe
- Purpose
- 14 slate-mosaic circular houses on 2850 m hilltop with human-head friezes — cloud forest Chachapoya mountaintop sanctuary
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1924
- Excavation
- Excavated
1990 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Gran Pajatén — Chachapoya Mosaic Round Houses
c. 200 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Gran Pajatén — Chachapoya Mosaic Round Houses
On the ground
Structures & features
7.6310° S · 77.2700° W · 2850 m · 3 mapped features
- Gran Pajatén — Chachapoya Mosaic Round Houses — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Gran Pajatén — Chachapoya Mosaic Round Houses — primary structure7.6310° S · 77.2682° W
- Gran Pajatén — Chachapoya Mosaic Round Houses — Northern Complexcomplexcomplex at Gran Pajatén — Chachapoya Mosaic Round Houses — subsidiary complex7.6299° S · 77.2691° W
- Gran Pajatén — Chachapoya Mosaic Round Houses — Southern Rock Artrock artrock art at Gran Pajatén — Chachapoya Mosaic Round Houses — subsidiary complex7.6297° S · 77.2709° W