Huaca Montegrande (Jaén)
Huaca Montegrande Jaén
Late Preceramic–Initial Period 3000–2500 BCE·Marañón Amazon-Andes (Jaén pre-Carral)·🇵🇪 Cajamarca, Jaén Province, Peru
About
About Huaca Montegrande (Jaén)
Amazon-Andes 5300-year spiral temple (3000 BCE) 3.5 km south of Jaén: 400 m² horseshoe/pyramid spiral 8 m high with Maltese cross hearth, polychrome murals, cajamarquino burial with cacao residues. Quirino Olivera 2009 discovery claims oldest cacao in world — 5300-year Theobroma starch in ceramic, rewriting domestication from Amazonian origin earlier than Mesoamerica by 1500 years. Spiral shape mirrors Caral-Supe but in Amazonia, challenging coast-centric formative.
Why it mattersOldest temple in Amazonia and oldest cacao; proves Amazon as independent civilization hearth parallel to Caral.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Was spiral astronomical or snail-water cult
- 02Cacao transplant route to Mesoamerica
Theories
- 01Montegrande as source for Mesoamerican chocolate via trade
- 02Spiral mirrors shell cosmology
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.3000–2500 BCE
- Period
- Late Preceramic–Initial Period 3000–2500 BCE
- Culture
- Marañón Amazon-Andes (Jaén pre-Carral)
- Builders
- Marañón Tradition
- Purpose
- Spiral temple, cacao ritual center and early ceremonial plaza
- Abandoned
- c.2500 BCE (resettlement)
- Rediscovered
- 2009 Quirino Olivera; ongoing 2010–
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
3000 BCE
Spiral horseshoe platform built
2019
Cacao starch published
On the ground
Structures & features
5.7160° S · 78.7935° W · 740 m · 2 mapped features
Spiral Temple Platform
pyramidHorseshoe spiral adobe platform 27×12 m with central hearth
5.7155° S · 78.7930° WCacao Offering Tomb
tombBurial with Theobroma cacao ceramics near hearth
5.7165° S · 78.7940° W
Gallery