Puñay: Difference between revisions
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'''The Lost Pyramid of Puñay''' is a pre-Incan [[pyramid]] in the Ecuadorian [[Andes]] constructed in the form of a [[Macaw]] on the peak of a mountain and carbon dated 2400 years BC. |
'''The Lost Pyramid of Puñay''' is a pre-Incan [[pyramid]] in the Ecuadorian [[Andes]] constructed in the form of a [[Macaw]] on the peak of a mountain and carbon dated 2400 years BC. The pyramid is 450 meters long and 40 meters tall and was constructed at 3300 metres above sea level <ref>[http://ecuadorecoadventure.com/ecotourism/punay/]</ref> making it the highest located pyramid in the world. It is believed the temple was once an ancient astrological observatory where Amautas and Yacchas (Andean wisemen and priests) worshiped the God of the Sun "INTI" sacred to all of the [[Kichwa]] cultures in the [[Andes]]. |
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At first sight the pyramid appears to be an extension of the mountain because of the build up of biomass and erosion over thousands of years but on closer inspection the two highest points and innumerous terraces are unarguably artificial. The stones and clay used to construct the pyramid does not occur naturally on the mountain and is believed to have been carried there from nearby mines in the valleys. |
At first sight the pyramid appears to be an extension of the mountain because of the build up of biomass and the erosion that has slightly affected its structure over thousands of years but on closer inspection the two highest points and innumerous terraces are unarguably artificial. The stones and clay used to construct the pyramid does not occur naturally on the mountain and is believed to have been carried there from nearby mines in the valleys. There is little doubt that the pyramid was constructed by the Cañari people, at the time one of the most advanced pre-Incan cultures in the Andes, because of the technology utilized in its construction. <ref>[http://www.explored.com.ec/noticias-ecuador/descubren-antiguo-centro-ceremonial-157603-157603.html]</ref> There are two truncated pyramids on the peak of the mountain which are believed to be dedicated to both the sun and the moon like many other Mesoamerican pyramids. |
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'''History and Desecration of Pyramid''' |
'''History and Desecration of Pyramid''' |
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A Kichwa myth about a lost pyramid containing golden artifacts located somewhere in the Ecuadorian highlands lured both archeologists and grave robbers to the area in search for the sacred site. |
A Kichwa myth about a lost pyramid containing golden artifacts located somewhere in the Ecuadorian highlands lured both archeologists and grave robbers to the area in search for the sacred site. |
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Unfortunately grave robbers got there first and desecrated the pyramid by digging many holes in search of gold and ancient artifacts that can be sold for a fortune on the international black market. |
Unfortunately grave robbers got there first and desecrated the pyramid by digging many holes in search of gold and ancient artifacts that can be sold for a fortune on the international black market. |
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It is also rumoured that the sacred site was once a military observation post <ref>[http://www.explored.com.ec/noticias-ecuador/descubren-antiguo-centro-ceremonial-157603-157603.html]</ref> because from the panoramic view from the peak of the mountain whereby one can even see the lights of [[Guayaquil]] on the coast at night but that claim could not be confirmed. |
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In 2002 Christian Aguirre, a teacher in the School of Ecotourism in the University Politecnica de Chimborazo, was the first to conduct a study of the pyramid and measure its dimensions and he discovered that it had the formation of a giant [[Macaw]], a bird sacred to all Andean cultures. In an interview Christian said with regards to the many holes in the pyramid |
In 2002 Christian Aguirre, a teacher in the School of Ecotourism in the University Politecnica de Chimborazo, was the first to conduct a study of the pyramid and measure its dimensions and he discovered that it had the formation of a giant [[Macaw]], a bird sacred to all Andean cultures. In an interview Christian said with regards to the many holes in the pyramid "These holes were made about 50 to 70 years ago by gringos. Nobody knows what they took but many people here say there used to be a lot of gold" <ref>[http://www.explored.com.ec/noticias-ecuador/descubren-antiguo-centro-ceremonial-157603-157603.html]</ref> |
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In 2003 Eudoro Flores the former mayor of the nearby city of Chunchi was noted as saying |
In 2003 Eudoro Flores the former mayor of the nearby city of Chunchi was noted as saying "If you want gold, go to Puñay" but added he was impelled to promote the place for tourism to help its conservation and prevent grave robbers from further desecrating the site.<ref>http://www.explored.com.ec/noticias-ecuador/descubren-antiguo-centro-ceremonial-157603-157603.html</ref> In 2010 Audrey Rose Goldfarb of Portland Oregon took the first camera crew to Puñay as part of her documentary on "The Hidden Secrets of Ecuador" the documentary is currently in post production. |
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<!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically --> |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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* [http://ecuadorecoadventure.com/ecotourism/punay/] |
* <ref>[http://ecuadorecoadventure.com/ecotourism/punay/]</ref> |
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* [http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/vol_extra.cfm?name=Altar Global Volcanism Program: Altar] |
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{{/Reflist}} |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [http://www. |
* [http://www.ecuadorecoadventure.com/ecotourism/punay/] |
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Revision as of 20:17, 3 August 2010
The Lost Pyramid of Puñay is a pre-Incan pyramid in the Ecuadorian Andes constructed in the form of a Macaw on the peak of a mountain and carbon dated 2400 years BC. The pyramid is 450 meters long and 40 meters tall and was constructed at 3300 metres above sea level [1] making it the highest located pyramid in the world. It is believed the temple was once an ancient astrological observatory where Amautas and Yacchas (Andean wisemen and priests) worshiped the God of the Sun "INTI" sacred to all of the Kichwa cultures in the Andes.
At first sight the pyramid appears to be an extension of the mountain because of the build up of biomass and the erosion that has slightly affected its structure over thousands of years but on closer inspection the two highest points and innumerous terraces are unarguably artificial. The stones and clay used to construct the pyramid does not occur naturally on the mountain and is believed to have been carried there from nearby mines in the valleys. There is little doubt that the pyramid was constructed by the Cañari people, at the time one of the most advanced pre-Incan cultures in the Andes, because of the technology utilized in its construction. [2] There are two truncated pyramids on the peak of the mountain which are believed to be dedicated to both the sun and the moon like many other Mesoamerican pyramids.
History and Desecration of Pyramid
A Kichwa myth about a lost pyramid containing golden artifacts located somewhere in the Ecuadorian highlands lured both archeologists and grave robbers to the area in search for the sacred site. Unfortunately grave robbers got there first and desecrated the pyramid by digging many holes in search of gold and ancient artifacts that can be sold for a fortune on the international black market. It is also rumoured that the sacred site was once a military observation post [3] because from the panoramic view from the peak of the mountain whereby one can even see the lights of Guayaquil on the coast at night but that claim could not be confirmed.
In 2002 Christian Aguirre, a teacher in the School of Ecotourism in the University Politecnica de Chimborazo, was the first to conduct a study of the pyramid and measure its dimensions and he discovered that it had the formation of a giant Macaw, a bird sacred to all Andean cultures. In an interview Christian said with regards to the many holes in the pyramid "These holes were made about 50 to 70 years ago by gringos. Nobody knows what they took but many people here say there used to be a lot of gold" [4]
In 2003 Eudoro Flores the former mayor of the nearby city of Chunchi was noted as saying "If you want gold, go to Puñay" but added he was impelled to promote the place for tourism to help its conservation and prevent grave robbers from further desecrating the site.[5] In 2010 Audrey Rose Goldfarb of Portland Oregon took the first camera crew to Puñay as part of her documentary on "The Hidden Secrets of Ecuador" the documentary is currently in post production.
There remains very little information about "The Lost Pyramid" in textbooks, guidebooks, or on the internet since it was "rediscovered" and confirmed as a site of significant archeological importance back in 2002. To this day the Ecuadorian government has not invested any money to help develop the pyramid as a touristic site because of the large amount of resources required however there are a small number of private ecotourism companies that run tours to the pyramid in hope that the increase in awareness created will help in its future conservation.