Chachapoyas Culture: More Than 100 Archaeological Structures Discovered At Gran Pajatén, Peru

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced a major discovery at Gran Pajatén, one of the most enigmatic and architecturally significant archaeological remnants of the Chachapoya civilization in Peru’s San Martín region.

Gran Pajatén during 2022 expedition. Photo by Heinz Plenge Archive.

The Chachapoyas culture, settled in the Department of Amazonas flourished between 800 and 1500 CE, before the Inca conquest, and left a significant number of large stone monuments.

The complex is situated within Río Abiseo National Park, a UNESCO Mixed World Heritage site that spans approximately 3,000 square kilometers of mountain forests in North-Central Peru, featuring ancient burial grounds and numerous unique traces of the little-known Chachapoyas civilization.

Researchers have identified and documented over 100 previously unrecognized archaeological structures, significantly surpassing the initial 26 structures recorded in the 1980s.

The findings are the results of fruitful work conducted by the WMF office in Peru from 2022 to 2024. This comprehensive project integrated exploration, excavation, conservation efforts, and advanced documentation techniques.

The Chachapoya civilization, frequently referred to as the "people of the cloud forest," emerged between the seventh and sixteenth centuries in the northeastern Andes of Peru. This society established itself at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 meters (approximately 6,561 to 9,842 feet) above sea level. They constructed advanced urban centers, ceremonial platforms, cliffside burial structures, and agricultural terraces in often isolated and challenging terrains.

The Chachapoya society consisted of regional chiefdoms that nonetheless shared a distinctive architectural and artistic language. This is evident in their unique circular buildings, geometric friezes, and intricately adorned cliffside burials. Despite their resistance to Inca expansion efforts, the Chachapoya were ultimately integrated into the Inca Empire in the late 15th century, shortly before the Spanish arrival.

Gran Pajatén at Río Abiseo National Park in Peru during a 2022 WMF expedition to the site. Photo by Heinz Plenge Archive.

Gran Pajatén, unearthed in the 1960s, is considered one of the most distinguished extant Chachapoya sites. This complex features ceremonial edifices adorned with stone mosaics portraying human figures, high-relief friezes, and offers a commanding vista of the encompassing cloud forest. Although prior investigations revealed several notable structures, a significant portion of the site remained obscured by dense vegetation. So, its comprehensive scale, function, and chronology have been subjects of continued scholarly inquiry.

To protect the fragile ecosystem of Río Abiseo National Park, tourist access to Gran Pajatén and other sites remains restricted. Using advanced technologies such as LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry, topographic registration, and technomorphological analysis, WMF created the most detailed map of Gran Pajatén to date.

“This discovery radically expands our understanding of Gran Pajatén and raises new questions about the site’s role in the Chachapoya world. Evidence now confirms that it is not an isolated complex but part of an articulated network of pre-Hispanic settlements from different periods,” said Juan Pablo de la Puente Brunke, Executive Director of WMF in Peru.

Conservation work on the North Basing of Building 1 in Pajatén, Peru. Photo by Heinz Plenge Pardo.

“What makes this moment so meaningful is not only the scale of what’s been uncovered, but how we were able to do it,” said Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of World Monuments Fund.

“By using advanced technology, our team was able to gather extraordinary visual and scientific documentation that brings Gran Pajatén to life—all while preserving its delicate environment. Though the site itself remains out of reach for most, these tools will allow us to share its stories widely through thoughtful, immersive digital storytelling.”

Archaeological research has proved the presence of the Chachapoya at Gran Pajatén as early as the fourteenth century, with soil layer analyses suggesting even earlier utilization of the site.

Combined with the discovery of a nearby network of pre-Hispanic roads connecting Gran Pajatén to other sites such as La Playa, Papayas, and Los Pinchudos, these findings support a broader interpretation of the complex as part of a hierarchical, well-connected territory.

In parallel with these remote sensing efforts, the team also undertook archaeological and conservation interventions at one of the most important structures within the Gran Pajatén complex. The conservation team conducted controlled vegetation clearing, detailed digital documentation, and physical stabilization, including the refilling of joints, the reinforcement of stairs and stone reliefs, and that partial reassembly of the perimeter wall. A clay-based mix was specially formulated to reinforce these structures without altering their authenticity.

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“This work constitutes a pioneering intervention that will serve as a model for future conservation actions in the area,” says Dr. Ricardo Morales Gamarra, head of the conservation component of the project.

A free exhibition at the Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI), Peru, on view from May 21 to June 18, offers an opportunity to explore the Chachapoya culture and learn more about WMF’s recent discoveries.

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Written by Conny Waters - AncientPages.com Staff Writer