Mystery of Peru’s “Band of Holes”

At the Museum | Farrand Auditorium

For almost a century, the “Band of Holes”—over 5,200 shallow pits carved into the hillsides of Monte Sierpe in Peru’s Pisco Valley—confounded archaeological interpretation. Learn about the latest research on these mysterious holes in a free public lecture presented by the Santa Barbara County Archaeological Society, featuring Professor Charles Stanish, Ph.D., of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Culture and the Environment at University of South Florida.

In a recent study, Prof. Stanish and Jacob Bongers, Ph.D., (University of Sydney) propose the holes were constructed during the pre‑Inca period as part of a rudimentary marketplace that was later adapted by the Inca into a system of accounting and storage. They used high‑resolution drone-mapping of the holes to reveal mathematical patterns that mirror the logic of Inca khipus, and microbotanical analysis to identify remains of plants used in agriculture and basketry. These findings support interpretation of the “Band of Holes” as a sophisticated exchange system and underscore its significance to Andean Indigenous heritage.

No tickets or reservations required, but it is recommended to arrive a little early to ensure a seat. For more information, contact sbcas@sbnature2.org.

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