|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Discoveries
Phase 2
Jungle Fortresses
In the jungles off Samaipata, west of Santa Cruz, the
explorers identified twin fortresses built by Amazon Indians
who lived in the highlands around 900 AD. Excavations
of the jungle covered fortifications resulted in discoveries
of significant buildings. An Amazonian pot dating back
to 1000 AD was found at the fortress. A finely carved
pre-Inca mortar, dating around 900 AD was also discovered
but was unfortunately broken while digging. A paved Inca
road was also unearthed. The road is believed to have
been built at a later date when the Inca expanded the
site. The discovery of the Inca road indicates links between
the mountains and the plains.
Carvings
at Cerro Cora National Park
Stories of strange runic scripts, cave drawings and
petroglyphs led a few members of the Kota Mama expedition
to the Cerro Cora National Park. Explorations resulted
in discoveries of two sites.
The first site was Tuja-Og (The House of the Old Man)
where an overhang at the front of a sandstone cliff sported
a range of carvings. Some looked like rhea (an ostrich
like bird) footprints, others were long parallel lines
of dots which may have been a map of some form. The next
site, Cerro Acua was much bigger and seemed full of depictions
of male and female genitalia. Although some theories have
suggested that the petroglyphs found in the area are of
Viking origin, the expedition's members decided that these
symbols were not the runic script of the Vikings. However
they were certain that the carvings were several hundred
years old.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
