Gran Pajáten, Archaeological site in Rio Abiseo National Park, Peru.
Gran Pajáten is an archaeological site in Rio Abiseo National Park, hidden on terraces in the Andean cloud forest at around 2850 m (9350 ft) elevation. The complex includes 26 round stone structures scattered across several levels over an area of roughly 2 hectares (5 acres).
Archaeological finds show human settlement from the 2nd century BCE. The structures visible today were built later, when the Inca Empire extended its influence into this remote forest region.
The round buildings carry wall panels made of layered slate pieces, showing human faces and birds. These mosaics belong to the construction style of the Chachapoyas culture, which lived in the cloud forests east of the Andes.
Visiting requires permits from Peru's Ministry of Agriculture and National Institute of Culture due to conservation and nature protection measures. Access is on foot through dense cloud forest via multi-day hikes that demand physical endurance.
The complex lies between the Marañon and Huallaga rivers in one of Peru's most remote zones. UNESCO protects the area simultaneously as both natural and cultural heritage, which is rare worldwide.
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