Archaeology & Mountain - Touring Company

09/03/2026

Did you know that the history of chocolate doesn't start in Mexico, but in the upper jungle of Peru over 5,000 years ago? 🍫🇵🇪

​In Jaén (Cajamarca), an archaeological discovery has shaken up everything we thought we knew about the origins of Andean civilization. It's called Montegrande, and it’s a temple unlike anything you’ve seen before.
​
​Sacred Architecture in the Shape of a Serpent 🐍🌀

Beneath what appeared to be a natural hill, archaeologist Quirino Olivera (whose research is a key part of the book Paleoamazonia) unearthed a monumental structure. These were not square pyramids, but a massive spiral made of river stones.

​This shape is no coincidence. The spiral represents a coiled serpent, a universal Amazonian symbol for water, fertility, and the underworld. It is architecture designed to connect with the cosmology of the jungle.

​🍫 The Tomb and Sacred Cacao

At the center of the spiral, the tomb of an elite figure—likely a high priest or shaman—was found. But the biggest surprise lay in the offering vessels: remains of cacao (Theobroma cacao) dating back 5,300 years.

​This proves that Upper Amazon cultures were already cultivating, consuming, and venerating cacao millennia before the Mayans or Aztecs in Central America.

​The Missing Link 🔗

Montegrande proves that the jungle was not isolated. It was a cradle of early civilization that exchanged products and ideas with the highlands and the coast. Andean culture has Amazonian roots that are much deeper than we ever imagined.

​👇 For the chocolate lovers:

Now that you know your chocolate bar has a 5,000-year-old Amazonian ancestor, does it taste different to you? Let us know in the comments!

​

02/03/2026

Deep within the Amazon rainforest of Madre de Dios, Peru, a massive rock wall is covered in mysterious carved faces and geometric symbols that have baffled explorers for centuries. 🗿✨🇵🇪

​Known as the Pusharo Petroglyphs, some theorize they are ancient star maps or records of lost migrations. However, archaeological research reveals a far more profound meaning.
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​The Rock as a "Portal" Between Worlds 🌀
Unlike the paintings we explore elsewhere in the Amazon, these images were deeply carved into the stone.
​As detailed in the book Paleoamazonía (drawing on research by Giuseppe Orefici in Peru and Francisco Pérez-Gómez in Venezuela), these carvings were not mere decoration. For indigenous cultures across the Amazon—from Manu in Peru to the majestic tepuys of Canaima, Venezuela 🇻🇪—the rock face was considered a "living membrane."

​By carving into the stone, shamans and elders opened a portal to interact with the spiritual world and the forces of nature.

​Sacred Geography 🗺️
These sites teach us that for ancient Amazonians, the landscape itself was sacred. They didn't need to build cathedrals; their mountains, rivers, and rock walls were already their temples.
​The Amazon is filled with these ancient codes that we are only just beginning to decipher.

​👇 Your turn:
Look at the intricate carvings in the image. What message do you think these ancient faces were meant to convey? A warning, a welcome, or a prayer? Let us know your thoughts.

​

23/02/2026

Before the pyramids of Egypt, before Rome, and long before the Incas... someone deep in the Colombian Amazon was already painting the history of the world. 🎨🐆🇨🇴

​Welcome to the Serranía de La Lindosa and Chiribiquete National Park. Often called the "Sistine Chapel of the Amazon," these miles of painted rock form the oldest library on the continent.
​
​Not just art, but a "Cosmic Maloca" 🌌
Imagine towering rock walls covered in over 75,000 paintings. Created at the end of the Ice Age, some of these masterpieces are more than 12,500 years old.

​As we explore in the book Paleoamazonia (featuring research by experts like Carlos Castaño-Uribe), these panels weren't just decorative canvases. For early Amazonian cultures, the rock was a living membrane—a portal connecting the physical and spiritual worlds.

​🖌️ What did they paint?
​Scenes of hunting, dancing, and vibrant community life.
​Powerful animals like the jaguar, revered not as prey, but as equals or spiritual guardians.
​Human figures interacting with giant, extinct Ice Age animals (megafauna).

​These paintings prove that the Amazon was never an "empty green hell." From the very beginning, it was a landscape of complex rituals, deep ecological knowledge, and profound respect for nature.
​This painted memory in blood and ochre is our shared human heritage.

​👇 Question for you:
If you could paint a message on a rock for someone to discover 10,000 years from now, what would you draw? Tell us in the comments!

​

16/02/2026

What if the Amazon is not a "virgin" wilderness, but a massive, man-made garden? 🌿🏛️

​For centuries, we believed the rainforest was an untouched paradise. But modern archaeology and LIDAR technology are revealing a different truth: it is a biocultural artifact shaped by human hands for over 12,000 years.
​
​In the book Paleoamazonia, we explore how ancestral civilizations didn't just live in the jungle—they built it.

​Engineered Soils: They created "Terra Preta" (Amazonian Dark Earth) to turn poor soil into fertile farmland.

​Urban Planning: They designed vast networks of roads, canals, and circular villages hidden under the canopy.

​Lasting Legacy: Much of the biodiversity we see today is the result of ancient agroforestry and intentional planting.
​The Amazon is a living testament to a future where humanity and nature thrive together. Understanding its past is the key to protecting its future. 🌎✨

​👇 What do you think?
Is the Amazon a wild forest or an ancient masterpiece of engineering? Let us know in the comments!

​

04/01/2026

🇵🇪 The Flavors of Peru are Taking Over NYC! 🗽🔥
Did you know that Peruvian cuisine is consistently ranked among the best in the world? 🌎🏆
Its global success is rooted in Peru’s incredible biodiversity 🌿🐟🌶️ and a rich tapestry of cultural influences—including Spanish 🇪🇸, Italian 🇮🇹, and Japanese 🇯🇵 heritage—that have blended over centuries to create something truly unique.
If you’re craving an authentic taste of Peru in the Big Apple 🍎, here are two must-visit spots 👇:
✨ Artisano (Manhattan):
Led by Chef Rodrigo Fernandini 👨‍🍳, this restaurant blends childhood memories from Chiclayo with elite techniques refined in Michelin-starred kitchens 🌟. A highlight of his cuisine is the use of rocoto paste 🌶️ brought directly from Peru and a handcrafted leche de tigre 🐟🍋 that gives his ceviche a bold and unforgettable personality.
✨ Mission Ceviche (Union Square):
What began as a humble food market booth has become one of NYC’s top Peruvian dining destinations 🌆🥇. Chef Jose Luis Chavez elevates classic flavors using ají amarillo and ají limo 🌶️🌶️, offering a modern, creative interpretation while honoring the soul of Peruvian culinary tradition.
🍸🎨 The experience goes beyond food!
The team also launched S Mission, a conceptual Latin American bar and art club in Manhattan, where guests can enjoy Peruvian hospitality 🤍, art 🖼️, and vibrant culture in an inspiring atmosphere.
🎶 Peruvian cuisine is like a grand philharmonic orchestra:
Each ingredient—fresh lime 🍋, native chilies 🌶️, ocean flavors 🌊—has its own “sound,” but together they create a perfectly harmonious symphony of flavor.


́aPeruana
🇵🇪✨

https://youtu.be/a5uYXNADNwY?si=LLPo-Unb-y0bTkQH

30/12/2025

🌄 A New Ancient City Emerges from the Peruvian Desert 🇵🇪✨
Peru continues to reveal its extraordinary past. Archaeologists have recently unveiled Peñico, a 3,800-year-old ancient city hidden for millennia in the desert hills north of Lima.
Peñico was part of the legendary Caral civilization, one of the oldest civilizations in the Americas. This remarkable city once served as a strategic hub connecting the coast, the Andes, and the Amazon, proving that long-distance trade and cultural exchange already flourished thousands of years ago.
🗿 Archaeologists have identified: • Ceremonial temples
• Residential complexes
• A unique circular plaza
• Ritual objects and ancient jewelry
These discoveries help us understand how early Andean societies adapted to climate change, organized their cities, and preserved their traditions after the decline of Caral.
🌎 At Archaeology & Mountain – Touring Company, we believe these discoveries are more than history — they are living heritage. They invite us to explore Peru beyond the classics and to connect with the roots of Andean civilization.
📩 Interested in archaeological routes, cultural journeys, or future visits to Peru’s newest heritage sites?
Follow us and discover the Peru that few have seen.

🔎 Exploring deep Peru: connecting cultures, archaeology, nature, and discovery.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250910-perus-new-city-unearthed-from-the-desert

23/01/2025

🌟✨ Unveiling the Secrets Beneath Cusco ✨🌟

Did you know there’s an ancient Inca tunnel hidden beneath the historic city of Cusco, Peru? 😲 Researchers have rediscovered this fascinating underground passage, believed to have been used for rituals and as a connection to sacred Inca sites. 🙌

This tunnel, part of the impressive Sacsayhuamán complex, highlights the incredible engineering and spiritual depth of the Inca civilization. 🏛️ It’s a reminder of the mysteries still waiting to be uncovered beneath one of the most iconic cities in the Andes. 🏔️

👉 Read more about this incredible discovery and how it adds to the rich history of Peru's cultural heritage:
🔗 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-have-found-an-inca-tunnel-beneath-the-Peruvian-city-of-cusco-180985872/

🌍 Have you visited Cusco or dreamed of exploring its wonders? 🗿 Let’s discuss this amazing find in the comments! 💬

🏞️

The dug-out passages may follow the exact path of the Inca capital’s aboveground roads

31/10/2024

Interview with Quirino Olivera, archaeologist in charge of the Montegrande archaeological site, on Radio France International in Spanish. 🎙️

During this interview, organized by Rosario Pajuelo, Promperú representative, Quirino shared groundbreaking discoveries about the ancient domestication of cacao in South America. 🍫

These findings revealed how cacao spread from the Amazon over 5,000 years ago, aided by trade and cultural interaction. 🌍

This conversation offered a preview of the official presentation scheduled for November 1st at 3:00 p.m. at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris. 🇨🇵

Peru in the eyes of the world! 🇵🇪

https://youtu.be/i65mNW_eMds?si=WrwkySXocZ_0HuD7

09/03/2024

Great video about Montegrande site in Jaen, Amazonas, Peru

01/01/2024