by Gary Vey for Viewzone
Of all the ancient cultures in South America, perhaps the most mysterious are those found in and around the rugged mountains of Peru. The area is such a harsh environment, with steep inclines, temperature extremes and a scarcity of water to sustain crops or man, that it is a puzzle why ancient cultures settled here. But settle they did, often building large living centers from stone at very high altitudes where low atmospheric pressure makes even walking a breathless task.
While the world is generally familiar with Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines, another mystery has come to light through the modern science of satellite photography. This phenomenon is one that was previously known but the extent of its size and effort required to make it is just being fully realized.
A series of holes, usually about 24 inches across and in neat rows of from nine to twelve, stretch for almost a mile in Peru. It starts at the base of a mountain and then climbs up the side and meanders up and down, over some of the roughest terrain.
The remains of an ancient settlement can be seen near the Southern part of the path, distinguished by two large craters, measuring about 24 feet across. Elsewhere in the mountains, other ancient structures and foundations can be seen from satellite imagry [right], but have not yet been excvated.
In his book, Zecharia Sitchin describes how the annunaki set up a colony in Peru to look for gold, following their disappointment with sea mining. It has been suggested that these holes appear similar to excavations conducted by mining operations, perhaps searching for a vein of precious metal. Similar holes have been encountered from attempts to locate water, although the liklihood of finding water in these stone mountains seems very remote.
What made the ancient people of this era toil in such inhospitable conditions to create these holes? How long did it take them? What sustained them while they labored so hard? These mysteries remain to be answered.