Mysterious Stone Circles Uncovered in Argentina's Andes
A mountaineer's years of searching the Andes Mountains have finally paid off after he stumbled upon an enormous stone circle complex using Google Earth. The site, located in Argentina's Andes, is approximately 9,800 feet above sea level and consists of large circular structures linked by passageways, as well as rectangular areas.
The discovery was made by Carlos Gobbi, a Mendoza climber who has spent nearly 30 years searching for archaeological sites. The team studying the site suspects it is a geoglyph, a large design built or carved into the ground that is best appreciated from the air.
Unlike Peru's Nazca Lines, which were made by cutting trenches into the desert floor, this site was built by piling stones on top of the ground. Horacio Chiavazza, an archaeologist at Argentina's National University of Cuyo, believes there is no parallel in design or construction.
The age and purpose of the complex are still unknown, but researchers have ruled out it being a settlement due to the lack of pottery, food remains, or other surface evidence. The team plans to conduct fieldwork starting in December to determine its age, who built it, and why.