11:00 | Chachapoyas (Amazonas region), May. 19.
An ancient stone lintel from Chachapoyas Culture featuring a carved anthropomorphic face was discovered in Amazonas region.
The discovery was made during conservation work on the Levanto–Quipachacha–El Molino Pre-Hispanic Road, located in Chachapoyas province.
It occurred in Levanto district, at kilometer 6+402 of the archaeological section linked to the Andean road system Qhapaq Ñan.
The lithic piece, made of sandstone and measuring approximately 80 centimeters in length, remained hidden beneath the ancient road's cobbled structure.
What most surprised specialists was that the block features a carved human face in its central section, deliberately oriented toward the subsoil, suggesting it may have been reused in later periods to conceal its symbolic and decorative value.
Ancestral culture
According to the project's archaeologists, the element stylistically corresponds to Chachapoyas Culture, which developed between 1000 and 1470 A.D. The civilization was one of the most important in northeastern Peru.
The project is being carried out by Amazonas Regional Government through Proamazonas, with support from Japan International Cooperation.
The initiative is part of efforts to research, preserve, and enhance the value of the Amazon region's cultural heritage.
Specialists indicated that the discovery represents a key contribution to better understanding the history of Chachapoyas peoples and the transformations undergone by archaeological sites during the viceregal and republican periods.
During the intervention, technical registration work, photographic documentation, and a specialized evaluation of the piece were carried out in accordance with established protocols for the protection of cultural heritage.
(END) NHT/FGM/MVB
Published: 5/19/2026