Pampa Colorada Geoglyphs (Caravelí — Ayla Bridge)
Caravelí Pampa Colorada Lines · Pampa Colorado Caravelí
Early Intermediate to Middle Horizon (Nazca-Caravelí / Huari)·Nazca-Caravelí desert pampa tradition·🇵🇪 Arequipa Region, Caravelí Province, Chaparra District, Peru
About
About Pampa Colorada Geoglyphs (Caravelí — Ayla Bridge)
Broad, crimson deflation plain (890 m, 15°52′11″S 74°05′23″W per Maplandia 15.8697S 74.0897W) north of the Atico drainage, bearing 30+ linear geoglyphs: 90-310 m cleared lines, 45 m trapezoid, and 12-20 m circles on varnished alluvial fan. Unlike Nazca, lines here are broader (2.5-4 m) with lateral andesite windrows. Associated with Early Intermediate Nazca-Caravelí (200 BCE-600 CE) and later Huari checkerboard cairn reuses. Drone mapping by Ruales (2021) traced four radiating centres similar to Cantalloc pattern. Visibility best from Ayla Bridge road km 78.
Why it mattersNorthernmost extension of Nazca-Caravelí pampa line tradition beyond Palpa.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Caravelí vs Nazca authorship
Theories
- 01Obsidian caravan marking
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 - 700 CE
- Period
- Early Intermediate to Middle Horizon (Nazca-Caravelí / Huari)
- Culture
- Nazca-Caravelí desert pampa tradition
- Builders
- Caravelí pampa line builders
- Purpose
- Wayfinding and ritual avenues between coastal valleys and highland obsidian sources
- Abandoned
- c.800 CE
- Rediscovered
- 2019-2021 UPAP drone survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
200 BCE
Earliest trapezoid clearing
2021
Drone orthomosaic of 30+ lines
On the ground
Structures & features
15.8700° S · 74.0900° W · 890 m · 2 mapped features
Pampa Colorada Main Trapezoid
geoglyph45-m trapezoid with triangulated avenue
15.8690° S · 74.0890° WAyla Bridge Western Fan Lines
earthwork310-m triple-line avenue to drainage
15.8720° S · 74.0950° W