A team of Peruvian researchers has identified a series of carved stone platforms along the banks of the Saphy River, just outside the historic center of Cusco. These structures were used during the Coya Raymi festival, the Incan month of the Moon, which focused on the ritual purification of the city from diseases and spiritual impurities. During the ceremony, participants would bathe in the river and cast away 'evils' using torches and ritual weapons.
The platforms show signs of extensive water erosion consistent with controlled splashing and pouring, and the discovery of silver-alloy moon pendants nearby reinforces the site's connection to the lunar-focused festival. The finding highlights the Inca's sophisticated integration of urban hydrology with seasonal religious observances meant to protect the health of the capital's population.