Robots Exploring An Ancient Temple Make A Shocking Discovery

“When we walk into the site to excavate, the feelings of awe and privilege and fascination are not purely of our own invention. We’re still getting the message from these priests 3,000 years ago." That's what Professor John Rick of Stanford University's Department of Archeology experienced researching the ruins of Chavín de Huántar in Peru, as he told the BBC in 2016. But after 25 years of studying the site, new technology showed Rick that he still had so much left to uncover.

Ruins and Rituals

Carved into the Andes mountains, Chavín de Huántar was home to elaborate spiritual rituals thousands of years ago. People traveled great distances to participate in religious ceremonies led by priests in structured environments both above and below ground, made even more spiritually powerful by its special location.

Working with the Elements

In 1500 BC, the cultural hub attracted spiritual pilgrims looking to witness its grandeur and almost mystical relationship to the elements. Located some 10,500 feet above sea level in a valley below two rivers, the spot sees a lot of flooding, which ancient architects and priests work with, instead of against.

Strategic Technologies

Professor Rick has worked to piece together the past of life in Chavín de Huántar. As of 2018, he and his team observed enough of the site to know it was built and operated strategically. “It pushed the innovation of advanced technology. They were using hydraulics, acoustics, mirrors, psychoactive drugs. They made water dance and sing by its motion through canals," he told the BBC.

Tough Spot

The sheer feat of construction is impressive. Passageways schematically carved out of the earth prove that ancient Chavin building methods were just as sophisticated as those of the modern day. But that complexity makes them even trickier to explore, let alone research. The archeological team had to figure out how to access the narrowest of tunnels.