3500 years old strange creatures in stone unearthed in Peru

[uzn]

At the archeological Site Huaca Garagay, north of Lima there is a Temple with strange, maybe mythological creatures carves in Stone being excavated right now.
http://cdn2.spiegel.de/images/image-1149891-galleryV9-ewsl-1149891.jpg
Several thousand years ago there was a Temple at this place in the middle of a ceremonial Center.This Temple predates the Incas.
http://cdn1.spiegel.de/images/image-1149890-galleryV9-xwxp-1149890.jpg
There were 3 attempts to blow the site up by the maoistic Terrorgrupp Sendero Luminoso, but the site survived. One can see the original preserved colors in the Picture below.
http://cdn2.spiegel.de/images/image-1149929-galleryV9-wvoo-1149929.jpg

http://cdn4.spiegel.de/images/image-1149927-galleryV9-yoet-1149927.jpg

http://cdn1.spiegel.de/images/image-1149928-galleryV9-qiuq-1149928.jpg
The Temple was U-Shaped with a 30m high Pyramid in the middle and rectangular Buildings on all sides.
http://cdn4.spiegel.de/images/image-1149887-galleryV9-tvwv-1149887.jpg
There was a big staircase leading to the Atrium.
http://cdn3.spiegel.de/images/image-1149892-galleryV9-fsee-1149892.jpg
The whole complex was 22.000 squaremeters big.
http://cdn4.spiegel.de/images/image-1149893-galleryV9-hypf-1149893.jpg
The site was not taken care of for 30 years and many Robbers/gravediggers went the in search of Gold, and other relics. Now an official excavation is being done.
http://cdn2.spiegel.de/images/image-1149931-galleryV9-xoul-1149931.jpg

Source:
http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fund-in-peru-3500-jahre-alte-fratzen-entdeckt-fotostrecke-148010.html

[Foxie Loxie]

Great find, uzn!! :highfive:

[ZShawn]

looks like it was buried quite suddenly, by some very large pit-run ...amazing what lurks beneath these unassuming gravel piles

[uzn]

It is also featured on the Ancient Origins Website:
http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Garagay-Complex.jpg

http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/January-at-the-Garagay-site.jpg

http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/field/image/Chavin-Style-Friezes-Discovered.jpg

30 May, 2017 - 23:01 by Theodoros Karasavvas
Incredible New 3,500-year-old Chavin Style Friezes Discovered at Central Site in Lima
Lima Municipality archaeologists have discovered ancient, high relief friezes painted in several colors at Huaca Garagay site in Lima's San Martin de Porres district. Experts suggest that the newly found friezes are very similar to those of Chavin de Huantar, but possibly more ancient.

Newly Found Friezes Influenced by Chavin de Huantar
Hector Walde, director of the excavations in the region, said that the newly found friezes were carved on a pilaster positioned at the huaca's ceremonial courtyard. He also mentioned that he could immediately see how influenced the friezes were by Chavin de Huantar, "These friezes display feline features highly similar and influenced by Chavin de Huantar, although their production appears to be more local and even older," he said as News Network Archaeology reports. Access stairways that were probably used as a link connecting the main square and great atrium of the complex have also been found at the 22-hectare site.

Huaca Garagay History
The Huaca Garagay Temple complex is the most important and one of the oldest Chavin style monuments that has been found in the Lima region. It is dated from around 1500BC and construction of the various elements of the complex would have spanned several generations. As it is situated in the midst of the large, crowded city of Lima, it has been constantly under threat from developers. Over the years it has suffered disruption from both quarrying and construction and the largest pyramid in the Peruvian ‘U’ shaped construction is currently topped by a huge electricity tower.

In 1974, conservation work was granted by The Department of Research and Restoration of Monumental Goods of the National Institute of Culture. This work discovered polychrome reliefs in two of the pyramids and thousands of ceramic and textile items which indicated that the Garagay site possibly pre-dates the Chavin de Huántar.
It was subsequently left to be looted, invaded by settlers and forgotten for more than 30 years until the current excavations began to reveal its secrets once again.

Source:
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/incredible-new-3500-year-old-chavin-style-friezes-discovered-central-site-021411