Archaeologists working in the highlands of Bolivia have uncovered a set of ancient copper bells that sheds new light on harvest rituals once practiced across the Andes.
The findings, published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal, come from a ritual bundle unearthed at Yoroma, a settlement in Bolivia’s Oroncota Valley that belonged to the Yampara people during the time of the Inca Empire.
The study was led by Sonia Alconini of the University of Virginia and Walter Sánchez-Canedo of the Higher University of San Simón in Bolivia.
Copper bells uncover ancient harvest rituals in the Andes
The bundle was found inside a qollqa, a circular stone structure the Incas used to store crops such as maize and potatoes.
At its center sat six folded, pyramid-shaped copper bells, arranged alongside a small stone carving shaped like an ear of maize, a polished stone believed to have healing properties, a land snail shell, and a stone axe.
Researchers say the objects were placed together on purpose, likely to promote a strong harvest and general prosperity for the community. According to the study, the bells were grouped into three sets, each fitted with a different type of clapper made from copper, shell, or semi-precious stone.
When shaken or struck, the bells would have produced a range of clashing metallic tones, from bright and sharp to soft and low. Chemical testing showed the bells were made mostly of copper mixed with tin, along with small traces of arsenic and nickel, a combination that would have made them more durable and given them a brighter shine.
Present-day carnival rites mirror the ancient Yampara offering
Alconini and Sánchez-Canedo connect the discovery to a celebration still held today among the Jalqa and Tarabuco communities, descendants of the Yampara, during the Carnival season.
In that festival, known as Pujllay, dancers wear metal spurs and strap bells across their chests, filling the air with clanging sounds meant to welcome the harvest and honor Tata Pujllay, a spirited earthly deity tied to the underworld.
The researchers argue this modern tradition echoes the same beliefs that shaped the ancient offering at Yoroma centuries earlier.
Long-distance trade networks supplied Yoroma’s ritual objects
The study also traces the origins of the materials found in the bundle, pointing to extensive trade networks that stretched across the southern Andes.
Copper likely came from the Tarija region, northwestern Argentina, or northern Chile, while the polished stone came from Oruro and semi-precious minerals arrived from areas near the Atacama Desert.
Researchers say this shows the Yampara elite had access to goods gathered through long-distance exchange, and that they used those materials to create meaningful ritual objects tied to fertility, sound, and the natural world.
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