Dozens of geoglyphs (circles on the ground), some of which formed a chain, were found near the ancient Peruvian settlement of Quilcapampa. Experts believe the circles were symbolic.
The new objects were mapped using satellite and drone imagery. The smallest patterns are clearly visible from the ground, while the larger ones can only be discerned from above.
Many geoglyphs consist of one ring, but there are also more complex ones. For example, archaeologists came across a gigantic drawing of six concentric circles, which together resemble a whirlpool, reports Live Science. Others are accompanied by a pile of stones.
The size of the pictures varies considerably. One ring can be up to 4 m long, and polycyclic geoglyphs sometimes stretch over 800 m². According to experts, most of the drawings were created "by removing surface stones and releasing the sandy soil beneath them."
Their appearance is believed to have occurred between 1050 and 1400. At that time, the transshipment trading city of Kvilkikampa was located on this place. Its existence is evidenced not only by geoglyphs, but also by petroglyphs - examples of mountain art, engraved on the walls of the rocks near the settlement.
Geoglyphs are patterns applied to the ground that are found all over the world. The most famous examples are located on the Nazca plateau - thousands of drawings have been found there, from real and imaginary creatures to geometric shapes.
Why ancient people needed circles is still a mystery. Archaeologists can provide only one explanation. Most of the geoglyphs ever discovered are located near trade routes that existed thousands of years ago. The circular patterns probably symbolized something important for the movement of both people and goods along these paths.