LOST TECHNOLOGY

The 5,200-Hole Ridge — What the Evidence Really Shows

A closer look at Peru’s Band of Holes: alignments, pit dimensions, and what the latest research suggests about its purpose.

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Overview of the Site

The so-called “Band of Holes” is a line of thousands of man-made pits cut into a ridge in Peru. The feature is visually striking — and it attracts speculation — but the first step is to separate what we can measure from what we can only assume.

What We Can Actually Measure

When you strip away the speculation:

  • Most pits are similar in diameter.
  • The bands follow the slope of the ridge.
  • Breaks and overlaps point to multiple construction groups.

Even before you decide what the pits were “for,” the pattern suggests organization and repeatable method.

Why a Storage or Logistics Function Fits the Data

A practical interpretation treats the ridge as a logistics system: many small “units” that could be filled, used, and revisited over time. The value of that model is that it matches the geometry: repeated pits, mass labor, and a structure that scales.

If you want to challenge that, the best path is to show an alternative that explains:

  • why the pits are so consistently shaped
  • why they’re placed on a ridge with visibility and access
  • and why the system is built at this scale

Open Questions

Even with new survey data:

  • Who organized the labor?
  • What material moved through the system?
  • How did the ridge connect to older routes?

As new fieldwork and surveys continue, the ridge remains a test case for evidence-first interpretation.

Evidence at a Glance

Key signals, kept separate from interpretation.

Site Name

Monte Sierpe (Band of Holes)

Pit Count

~5,200 Excavated Pits

Pattern

Linear Band (Ridge Slope)

Geometry

Consistent Diameter

Forensic Breakdown

A quick comparison table when the case benefits from it.

Feature Storage Model Mining Model
Location Ridge / Visibility Near Ore Veins
Pit Shape Uniform / Finished Irregular / Raw
Arrangement Organized Band Scattered Spoil
Contents Empty / Residue Tailings / Debris
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