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Cumbemayo or Cumbe Mayo is an
The aqueduct winds down the hills toward the city of Cajamarca, stretching out over about in length. The canals brought water from the high grounds to the valleys below, which was especially valuable during times of
Los Frailones are massive volcanic pillars, some stretching as high as . The stone forests suddenly appear from the landscape, starkly contrasting the flat, grass-covered plains around Cajamarca. The erosive forces of wind and rain likely carved out the pillars.
Many of the pillars, carved by wind and rain have taken on new shapes, resembling hands and even animals, and allowing the mind to wander in the pristine Peruvian setting. Their impressive and rare geological formations, where some will identify the shapes of monks forming part of procession (hence the name ''frailones'', Spanish for friars)."Cumbemayo Archaeological Complex and The Friars." Cumbemayo Archaeological Complex and The Friars. Go2Peru, n.d
archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or recorded history, historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline ...
located 20 kilometers southwest of the city of Cajamarca in Peru
Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
at 3,500 meters of elevation. Built around 1500 B.C.E, it comprises aqueducts, a grotto and petroglyph
A petroglyph is an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions ...
s; all within an area of rock formations.
History
The aqueduct and thepetroglyph
A petroglyph is an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions ...
s at Cumbemayo are thought to be built circa 1500 - 1000 BC, the petroglyphs being similar to those of Chavín culture.
Aqueduct
One of the main attractions of Cumbemayo, or "Narrow River" in Cajamarca Quechua, is the aqueduct. This is a canal of approximately 9 km in length, carefully carved in volcanic rock to divert the water from the hills to cultivation fields and a large reservoir; which is presumably originally at the foot of the Santa Apolonia Hill. Heading towards the aqueduct one can observe some stairways sculpted in stone, and a carved stone which had been used as a ceremonial altar. Also prominent is the Sanctuary a huge cliff resembling a man's head, whose mouth would be a grotto, where interesting but undecipherable petroglyphs have been found. The caves and shelters of the area evidence other stone engravings, where visitors claim to see anthropomorphic images.
The aqueduct winds down the hills toward the city of Cajamarca, stretching out over about in length. The canals brought water from the high grounds to the valleys below, which was especially valuable during times of water scarcity
Water scarcity (closely related to water stress or water crisis) is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two types of water scarcity. One is ''physical.'' The other is ''economic water scarcity''. Physic ...
. A number of petroglyphs are also scattered around the aqueduct and in surrounding caves. These symbols provide additional insight into the people who constructed the canals.
Los Frailones
Los Frailones are massive volcanic pillars, some stretching as high as . The stone forests suddenly appear from the landscape, starkly contrasting the flat, grass-covered plains around Cajamarca. The erosive forces of wind and rain likely carved out the pillars.
Many of the pillars, carved by wind and rain have taken on new shapes, resembling hands and even animals, and allowing the mind to wander in the pristine Peruvian setting. Their impressive and rare geological formations, where some will identify the shapes of monks forming part of procession (hence the name ''frailones'', Spanish for friars)."Cumbemayo Archaeological Complex and The Friars." Cumbemayo Archaeological Complex and The Friars. Go2Peru, n.d
See also
* Agricultural history of PeruReferences
{{Archaeological sites in Peru Archaeological sites in the Department of Cajamarca Petroglyphs in South America Pre-Columbian archaeological sites Tourist attractions in the Department of Cajamarca Climbing areas of Peru