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Gran Pajatén: New Chachapoya Structures
A Lidar scan revealed more than 100 Chachapoya structures in Río Abiseo National Park, rewriting the history of the site.
A discovery that quadruples what is known
Lidar technology detected more than 100 new Chachapoya structures around the Gran Pajatén archaeological complex, a major leap for Peruvian archaeology.
Through a remote Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) scan, researchers identified more than 100 structures belonging to the Chachapoya culture around Gran Pajatén. The find quadruples the number of buildings known in the area and confirms a center far more complex than anyone imagined.
What did the Lidar scan reveal?
Behind the mist of the forest, the technology revealed a much larger built landscape than expected.
More than 100 new structures
Previously unknown Chachapoya buildings were identified, multiplying by four the number of structures documented in the area.
An interconnected network
Roads, platforms and buildings connected to one another reveal a planned territorial system far more extensive than once thought.
A ceremonial and administrative center
The complexity of the complex confirms that Gran Pajatén was a key point in Chachapoya social and religious organization.
A new boost for research
The discovery opens the door to future fieldwork aimed at understanding the architecture and territorial control of the ancient Chachapoya.
Río Abiseo National Park
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Mixed Site, this corner of northern Peru remains remote and difficult to reach.
The Warriors of the Clouds
Gran Pajatén remains a remote place surrounded by cloud forests that protected its structures for centuries. The Lidar scan allowed researchers to “see through” the vegetation without touching the ground.
The Chachapoya, known as the “Warriors of the Clouds,” were one of the most fascinating societies in the Andes before Inca expansion, and discoveries like this reveal their architectural and territorial sophistication.
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