Ancient Mysteries of the Andes Revealed by Satellite Technology: 76 Unknown Structures - "The Science of Hunting" Indicated by Convergent Evolution

A study reported on October 13 (local time) revealed that at least 76 previously unrecorded stone structures are spread across the steep slopes of the Camarones River basin in northern Chile, Andes. The high-resolution satellite images were meticulously analyzed by Adrian Oyaneder, an archaeologist from Chile currently affiliated with the University of Exeter. The long V-shaped stone walls converge into circular enclosures—a layout resembling the large-scale hunting device known as "chacu" mentioned in ancient records, which was confirmed to exist through field surveys. The details of the discovery were published in the archaeological journal 'Antiquity.'GreekReporter.comGreekReporter.com

The V-shaped arms are about 150 meters long at most, with some walls reaching a height of about 1.5 meters. The system was designed to guide herds using the terrain and drive them into enclosures for capture. The primary target was the vicuña, a wild relative of the alpaca. The research team strengthened the possibility of hunting purposes by cross-referencing satellite images with 20th-century Peruvian records and nearby small structures. The structures date back as far as 6,000 years, with evidence of use up to several centuries before the colonial period.Phys.org

The survey, conducted over four months, systematically scanned approximately 4,600 square kilometers, recording about 800 small stone shelters and camp remains around the 76 chacu structures. These were likely used seasonally as people moved, and researchers describe this spread as a "tethered mobile landscape." A new image of life emerges, where hunting, gathering, pastoralism, and small-scale farming coexisted over the long term.News

Notably, this challenges the traditional textbook understanding that pastoralism and agriculture became established in the Andes in the first half of the first millennium AD, leading to the decline of large-scale communal hunting. The 'Antiquity' paper suggests that communal chacu hunting continued long after the introduction of farming and pastoralism, emphasizing that societal livelihood strategies did not transition linearly but were layered and flexible, adapting to environmental constraints and seasonal resource fluctuations.Cambridge University Press & Assessment

The comparative perspective is also intriguing. Experts point out that the design is very similar to the "Desert Kites" known in the deserts of the Middle East and Central Asia—devices that also use V-shaped stone walls to drive wild animals—making it a prime example of "convergent evolution," where similar technologies independently emerge in distant regions with little cultural contact. Analogies with kangaroo management in Australia and structures on the Arabian Peninsula are also discussed, positioning this discovery within a global context of hunting landscape research.GreekReporter.com

In terms of methodology, the significance of establishing a workflow that starts with public satellite data and confirms findings through ground surveys is substantial. Researchers have also revealed plans to train machine learning to automatically detect similar structures from satellite images. If realized, this would accelerate large-scale screening of inaccessible highlands, bringing to light unrecorded hunting, pastoral, and ceremonial facilities.GreekReporter.com

The dilemma of preservation and utilization also becomes apparent. The expansion of main roads, mining development, and increasing tourism demand pose risks of landscape destruction. Balancing the promotion of these sites as cultural resources that local communities can take pride in and designing pathways and zoning to minimize foot traffic on fragile stone walls is essential. The research highlights not only "great imperial ruins" but also the "archaeology of everyday life" woven by countless small stones and traces, emphasizing the perspective of preserving them as a whole.theartnewspaper.com

Social Media Reactions (Key Points)

• On X (formerly Twitter), the official 'Antiquity' account released an 11-thread explanation. Numerous researchers and enthusiasts quoted the posts, discussing comparisons with Desert Kites and revisiting the common understanding that "agriculture equals the end of hunting."GreekReporter.com

• The same news spread on the official 'Antiquity' Facebook page, with notable discussions on the necessity of local preservation and geopark designation.Facebook

• Mainstream media quickly followed suit. National Geographic emphasized the wide range of dates, "from about 6,000 years ago to the modern era," while Nature-related reports succinctly conveyed the study's scope, stating "communal hunting persisted after the establishment of agriculture."National Geographic

Where is the true novelty?

1. Density and Spread: The concentration of 76 structures in the same basin is rare, allowing the reconstruction of a "regional-scale hunting infrastructure" rather than a collection of isolated structures. 2) Multilayered Life Histories: The approximately 800 small structures scattered around indicate traces of a mobile lifestyle combining hunting, gathering, pastoralism, and small-scale farming seasonally. 3) Generalizability of Methods: The satellite × field survey × historical records triangle is an exploratory model that can be applied not only in the Andes but also in arid regions worldwide.News

What is "Chacu"?

A famous term reminiscent of "royal hunting" from the Inca era, this study shows it can also be applied to prehistoric structures that predate it by far. Herds are driven by V-shaped stone walls and dropped into circular enclosures at the end. It is a "landscape technology" that requires understanding the terrain—ridges, valley walls, saddles—and familiarity with wind directions and animal paths.Phys.org

Future Points of Discussion

• Refinement of Date Determination: If the history of construction, modification, and reuse of each chacu can be broken down using radiocarbon dating and sedimentology, long-term usage cycles will become apparent.

• Reevaluation of Human-Animal Relationships: Examination of the use of wool, meat, and leather, the balance of herd management and capture, and connections to religious rituals.

• Discovery Bias in Machine Learning: Attention to structures that algorithms might overlook due to overfitting to "known shapes" (partially collapsed, deformed, buried).GreekReporter.com