Enigmatic Stone Circles Uncovered in Argentina's Andes Mountains
A mysterious complex of enormous stone circles has been discovered in Argentina's Andes mountains using Google Earth imagery. The site, located over 9,800 feet above sea level, was spotted by mountaineer Carlos Gobbi after nearly 30 years of searching the region.
The team believes it is a geoglyph, a large design built or carved into the ground that is best appreciated from the air. From above, satellite images show large circular structures linked by passageways, along with rectangular areas, joined as a single figure.
On the ground, the group found stone walls forming corridors and trenches filled with rock. The circles measure between 89 to 115 feet across. Researchers have found no pottery or other evidence of human habitation at the site.
The team cannot yet determine the age of the complex, who built it, or its purpose. They suspect it may be from the Inca period (the empire known as Tahuantinsuyo) or earlier, and could be tied to the Tambo de Ranchillos waystation in the Uspallata Valley.
Fieldwork is set to begin in December with a team of archaeologists from Argentina and Spain. They will use mapping, drone surveys, remote sensing, and geochemical work to help date the structures.