Gran Pajatén is an archaeological site located in the Andean cloud forests of Peru , on the border of the La Libertad region and the San Martín region , between the Marañon and Huallaga rivers . The archaeological site lies in the Rio Abiseo National Park , which was established in 1983. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Natural Site in 1990, and Cultural Site in 1992. In order to protect the fragile ruins and endangered environment, the archaeological site and the national park are currently not open to visitors without permits from Peru's Ministry of Agriculture and National Institute of Culture.
11-517: The related site of Los Pinchudos is located very near Gran Pajaten. Gran Pajatén sits on a hilltop above the Montecristo River valley, and consists of a series of at least 26 circular stone structures atop numerous terraces and stairways. The ruins occupy an area of about 20,000 m. The principal buildings are decorated with slate mosaics displaying human, bird and geometric motifs. Analysis of ceramic samples and radiocarbon dates show that
22-564: Is an elaborate Chachapoya tomb complex, perched in a high rock cleft in one of Peru 's northern Andean cloud forests . Los Pinchudos is located in Río Abiseo National Park , a natural and cultural World Heritage Site , guarded and closed to all except scientific missions. The clay and stone tombs of the complex have wooden roofs and are painted in red, yellow, black, and white colors. Anthropomorphic carvings featuring prominent phalluses are responsible for giving
33-414: The anthropology department at University of Colorado began a major research project at Gran Pajatén and surrounding archaeological sites in the park. The expedition was widely publicized, and this second large-scale investigation led to further discussions of opening the site up to tourism. A Peruvian televised expedition in 1990 once again cleared the protective vegetation from the site, and further damaged
44-470: The area for a possible road project. However, there is no evidence that ruins he encountered were those of Gran Pajatén or ruins of another abandoned prehispanic settlement. Therefore, the "discovery" of Gran Pajatén is attributed to villagers from the town of Pataz in 1963. After he was guided to the site by Pataz villagers in 1965, Savoy claimed credit by publicizing the discovery in the world press as his own. An official Peruvian government expedition visited
55-489: The area was occupied as early as 200 BCE, but the visible building ruins on the present site were constructed during Inca times. Based primarily on architectural evidence, the settlement is attributed to the Chachapoyas culture . Explorer Gene Savoy is erroneously credited with having found the ruins in 1965. The site is rumored to have been discovered around 1940 by Juanjui resident Eduardo Pena Meza while exploring
66-569: The ruins. Currently, there are plans for construction of several roads and tourist infrastructure in the region. Neither have been implemented due to the fragile nature of the ruins and the high cost of conserving the site while minimizing tourist impacts on its archaeological integrity and environmental context. At present (2023), the World Monument Fund is financing conservation work at Gran Pajatén as well as renewed archaeological investigations. Los Pinchudos Los Pinchudos
77-480: The scientists have some areas that are restricted to them as well in order to protect the cloud forest, the archaeological sites, and keep the extreme rare yellow-tailed woolly monkey from going extinct. Los Pinchudos is a precious cultural and natural place. It is the ancient burial of ground of the Chachapoyas. The fact that these monuments are exposed to extreme weather due to the tropical environment has brought
88-460: The site and began to clear vegetation in late 1965. By 1966, the Peruvian government had set up a helicopter pad and cleared much of the protective vegetation that surrounded the site. Many years later, these actions raised criticism due to the delicate nature of the archaeological site. Without the protection of dense vegetation, the stone ruins began to rapidly deteriorate. In 1985, a team led by
99-623: The site its name. Los Pinchudos is located very near the related site of Gran Pajaten . Due to the tombs' deteriorated condition, a result of seismic activity, exposure to the tropical environment, and damage by tourists , Los Pinchudos was listed in the 2000 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund . In 2000 American Express offered $ 47,000 through the Fund for an emergency conservation and structural stabilization project. While these emergency actions were successful,
110-510: The site was also listed on the 2002 World Monuments Watch in order to raise awareness for additional conservation work required at the site and for the need of a permanent site management plan. "Los Pinchudos" are large statues which feature male anatomy. These inspired the name, "Los Pinchudos", which is slang for "the ones with big penises."-Gwin Peter. The researchers believe that these tombs and their surroundings can teach us many things about
121-507: The vanished culture. The site is located in the Rio Abiseo National Park which is a natural and cultural World Heritage, which has been closed to the public and where tourism is not permitted at all. Government officials are studying to see if they can figure out how this area can be accessed, which has to be done with caution because this is a site where there is always research going on. Not only are tourist not allowed but
SECTION 10
#1732791356246#245754