Archaeologists working in Peru have uncovered ancient serpent sculptures at the site of Vichama, offering new insight into how one of the Americas’ oldest civilizations understood the natural world and survived periods of dramatic climate change.
The discoveries were announced by the Caral Archaeological Zone, part of Peru’s Ministry of Culture, during an event marking 19 years of research at the site.
Vichama, located in Végueta in the Huaura province, was inhabited between 1800 and 1500 B.C. and belongs to the Caral tradition, considered the oldest civilization in the Americas. The event was attended by Culture Minister Alberto Beingolea Delgado.
Ancient serpent sculptures emerge from Peru’s Vichama ruins
Researchers said the newly recovered items, made of bone and clay, were found in both public buildings and residential areas, with some pieces deliberately placed as offerings during periods when the structures were being rebuilt.
Two carvings from a section of the site known as Sector D stood out among the finds. One, carved from the antler of a young deer and measuring about 30 centimeters (11.8 inches), shows a human-like figure with closed eyes and mouth, paired with a serpent form.
Researchers believe the piece may reflect ideas about death and renewal, with the snake representing a passage into a new stage of life.
Snake imagery tied to renewal, fertility and water
The second carving, just under 7 centimeters (2.7 inches) long, is made of unfired clay and still bears traces of red and black pigment. It shows a serpent with a triangular head across the front of the figure, which also appears to be holding an object once used in rituals.
Researchers noted that the sculptures point to a broader belief system in which serpents were tied to renewal, fertility, and water, resources that were central to a society built on farming and fishing.
Archaeologist Ruth Shady Solís said the carvings at Vichama were meant to preserve the memory of a severe climate shift that occurred roughly 3,800 years ago, so that future generations would not forget what happened and could avoid repeating it.
Murals reveal Vichama’s beliefs on life and death
The site’s Sector A also contains 34 carved reliefs known collectively as the Mural of the Dance of Life and Death, while a separate mural in Sector K depicts two serpents converging on a central figure interpreted as a seed given human form.
Culture Minister said the findings reflect a civilization that endured extreme natural disasters, and that studying it offers lessons for how societies respond to environmental change today.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
