About Huaca Montegrande
The Huaca
The Montegrande archaeological site, one of Peru's most significant historical locations and the origin of the world’s oldest known traces of domesticated cacao, is at immediate risk of closure due to a lack of funding. The site, which has provided unprecedented insights into ancient Amazon culture and thereby lauded as one of the “Top 10 Archeological Discoveries in the World” by the renowned Shanghai Archeological Forum, is currently under excavation. Without financial support, these vital efforts could come to an abrupt end.
Peru’s Oldest Temple
Montegrande, also known as Huaca Montegrande, is a key archaeological site located in the high Amazonian jungle of Jaen province, within the Cajamarca region. It is recognized as Peru’s most ancient temple site and the location where the oldest known traces of beverages made from Theobroma cacao have been discovered, dating back over 5,300 years. This groundbreaking discovery has reshaped our understanding of ancient Amazon culture, spirituality, agricultural practices and trade networks in pre-Columbian America, as published in Scientific Reports in May 2024.
Ancient Cacao
Montegrande, a 14-year ongoing archaeological dig and anthropological study, is Peru’s oldest monumental temple and it holds the key to understanding human’s earliest spiritual connection to cacao. Containers have been found inside of the temple with cacao remnants that carbon date back 6,000 years, making it the oldest known origin of cacao on the planet today. This is older than the pyramids of Egypt and Mesopotamia. Genetic testing has confirmed that the cacao found inside of the temple is the same exact variety as the ancient cacao trees still growing above ground today. These trees are a living links between the past and present, and it's our responsibility to protect them.
Rewriting History
This study is rewriting history, revealing an entire civilization previously unknown. The Marañon civilization, as we discovered, thrived as an advanced society 3,000 years before the Inca and Nazca cultures. We found evidence inside of the temple of spirituality, agriculture, architecture, a cosmovision, art and rich culture. This project uncovered an advanced Peruvian society in the Amazon, once believed to be a culture of only hunter-gatherers.
Huaca Montegrande was the spiritual center of worship for the Marañon society. What did they venerate? CACAO. The artifacts in the temple all have a cacao motif - pottery, stone sculptures, jewelry & bone carvings.
PBS-NOVA Documentary
The global importance of Huaca Montegrande has already been highlighted in a NOVA documentary produced by PBS, a public television network in the United States. This documentary has brought international attention to the site, emphasizing the need to preserve this ancient legacy. The film has allowed global audiences to appreciate the rich and unprecedented history of Montegrande, further underscoring the urgency of ongoing excavation and research efforts.
The Crisis & Solution
Despite the site's national significance, international academic accolades, and the documentary spotlight, the archaeology team has faced severe financial constraints, putting the continuation of their work in jeopardy. The ongoing excavation and research have been carried out by a small non-profit organization ASICAMPE (Association for the Scientific Research of the Peruvian Amazon), which has been primarily funded through public grants and private donations. Today, these resources are nearly exhausted. If the excavations cease and the site closes, the opportunity to learn from Montegrande’s ancient relics and continued findings may be lost forever. Per Peruvian law, to protect national patrimony, the site would need to be re-buried.
In response to this crisis, ASICAMPE has partnered with the 501c3 Abundant Earth Foundation to launch an urgent fundraising campaign. Our goal is to raise $50,000 USD to keep the excavation ongoing and preserve the priceless cultural heritage of Montegrande.
Donations can be made directly through the Abundant Earth Foundation's website at https://abundantearthfoundation.org/ancientcacao/ . Every contribution, no matter how small, will play a critical role in preserving this ancient site.
