In the middle of nature and at 3,500 meters above sea level. lies one of the most impressive places within Cajamarca, the Cumbemayo stone forest. This archaeological center located 40 minutes from the city, hides among its forests, lithic sculptures that adorn the great Cajamarca valley.
Rocks carved by erosion impress every tourist who visits these places, where the beginning of the pre-Inca aqueduct stands out, a work of hydraulic engineering that has existed for more than 3,000 years, whose length is approximately 8 kilometers.
From the beginning of the route you can see rock formations in the distance that beautify the view along with the blue sky. Stone figures such as rabbit, rooster, camel, rest on the top of each erosion, leaving more rocks to the imagination of each visitor.
Bordered by great vegetation, it hides within them caves with engravings or petroglyphs, which highlight their religious belief in the vital foundation of life, water.
This impressive work, carried out by Cajamarcan ancestors, is expected to have been built around 1500 BC, and is considered one of the oldest existing structures in South America.
The stone canals extended along Cumbemayo, make up one of the legacies left in the Peruvian Andes that are preserved to this day, under the protection of the Ministry of Culture.
Given what has been found over time within this archaeological site, what stands out is the engravings on the stones that border the aqueduct, which have been the subject of research for various archaeologists.
The finds such as the altar, sacrificial table, stepped stones and several engravings sculpted on the stones suggest that an Andean sanctuary was offered as a thank you to the gods for the arrival of water to the lands of Cajamarca.
The renowned stone forest was discovered by chance, when in 1937, a worker from the San Cristóbal hacienda, where Cumbemayo belonged at that time, was carrying out his cleaning tasks.
After revealing this space with dazzling lithic figures, the archaeologist Julio C. Tello, in that same year, took the lead in slowly investigating the complex and revealing each of the secrets that he kept in its corners.
A destination that, without a doubt, leaves more than one visitor amazed at the work of the first settlers and its splendid architecture, to make this place one of the favorites of tourists.
Promoted by PromPerú, this space has a single entry payment of 8 soles, where the measures established by the Peruvian government against the contagion of covid-19 are respected, providing a safe and unforgettable visit to every citizen.
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