Archaeologists stunned as true purpose of 5,000 holes carved high into Andes mountain range is revealed

Now, a team of researchers believe they may have revealed the true purpose of the carefully-carved craters.

A new study published in the journal Antiquity has suggested the mysterious holes may have been used for trade, storage and record-keeping in the final centuries before Spanish colonial rule.

The research used high-resolution drone imaging and microscopic analysis of soil samples taken from the pits.

Scientists said the findings revealed a clear pattern in the layout, suggesting the holes were arranged in organised system of grouping and counting, rather than for decoration.

The layout of the holes shared strong similarities to "khipus" or recording devices used in ancient Andean communities for accounting and administrative tasks.

The theory laid out by the researchers also matches up with the regional history of the mountain range.

Monte Sierpe is situated on territory which was once a major hub for the Chincha Kingdom.

The Chincha harnessed rich farmland, established busy maritime trade routes and oversaw thriving craft industries.

The region was home to more than 100,000 people, many of who worked as fishermen, farmers and merchants, who facilitated trade between Peru's ancient coastal and highland communities.

Seated beside ancient roads and a nearby fortress, the site likely served as a hub for trade and the transport of supplies.

Examinations of the holes also revealed the presence of pollen from bulrush and maize.

These crops were closely linked to both daily life and economic exchange in the region, providing food and materials for items such as wooden baskets.

Researchers suggest the findings indicate the holes may have been used to store goods, which could later have been sold at nearby markets.

As the Chincha Kingdom was absorbed into the wider Inca Empire, the site at Monte Sierpe may have served as an important administrative post during the 15th century.

The authors of the study wrote: "Strategically situated at a critical crossroads between the Chincha and Ica valleys, coastal and highland ecological zones, and Inca administrative sites (Tambo Colorado and Lima La Vieja), Monte Sierpe was a place where disparate communities and goods could come together.

"The site’s accessibility is evident in its design, with gaps between sections, traversable hole edges and a compact layout that maximises space along the sides.

"Numerical patterning in the layout of the holes and the potential parallels found in a local khipu hint at an underlying intention in the site’s organisation.

"These data support a model in which Monte Sierpe was a localised, Indigenous system of accounting and exchange that dates to at least the Late Intermediate Period."

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