The Band of Holes, also known in Spanish as Monte Sierpe (serpent mountain) or Cerro Viruela (smallpox hill), is a series of about 5,000–6,000 man-sized holes found in the Pisco Valley on the Nazca Plateau in Peru. The purpose behind these holes remains a subject of debate and fascination among archaeologists, historians, and visitors alike. Various theories have been proposed to explain their function, but no definitive conclusion has been reached.
Band of Holes is a series of about 5,000–6,000 man-sized holes found in the Pisco Valley on the Nazca Plateau in Peru
These holes, approximately a meter deep and around 30 to 60 centimeters in diameter, create an otherworldly and captivating landscape. They stretch across the terrain, forming what appears to be a purposeful and deliberate pattern. The site itself spans a significant area, and the precision with which these holes are aligned suggests a level of careful planning and execution by the ancient builders. They are positioned in rows that run parallel to each other, creating what looks like a ‘band’ across the landscape, hence the name “Band of Holes.”
The site itself spans a significant area, and the precision with which these holes are aligned suggests a level of careful planning and execution by the ancient builders
Over the years, it has been suggested that these mysterious holes were graves, war defensive positions, storage places, or even that they are of extraterrestrial origin. Recently they have been thought of as storage pits built during the time of the Inca Empire from 1438 to 1533. In 1933, Band of Holes was first brought to the light by an aviator named Robert Shippee who published a photograph in National Geographic. In 2015, Archaeologists from UCLA made a visit to the site. They used drones to create a very detailed map of the holes. They speculate that the holes may have been a method of measuring Incan produce. Even if there are some different researches and opinions about the mysterious Band of Holes, yet, there is no certain statement about who created the holes or why.