Guitarrero Cave, Archaeological cave site in Ancash, Peru
Guitarrero Cave opens onto a mountainside in Yungay Province at 2,900 meters elevation, revealing a wide arched entrance that extends about 15 meters into the rock. Red ochre paintings mark the interior walls, adding visual interest to the natural chamber.
Humans occupied this cave between 10,000 and 9,000 BCE, leaving behind traces of early plant cultivation. Archaeologists documented some of the oldest evidence of agricultural activity on the South American continent at this site.
The cave inhabitants developed early agricultural practices, cultivating beans, peppers, squash, corn, and other crops while maintaining hunting and gathering activities.
The cave sits about 45 kilometers from Huaraz near the district of Shupluy and remains accessible daily. The elevation requires some acclimatization, so visitors should allow enough time and wear appropriate footwear for the terrain.
Researchers found bean remains in the cave dated to roughly 10,000 years ago, representing some of the earliest evidence of bean cultivation in the Americas. This discovery helped expand understanding of early farming in the Andes substantially.
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