In a major breakthrough for Andean archaeology, researchers at the Pacopampa Archaeological Project have discovered a ceremonial center dubbed the 'Temple of the Serpent-Priest'. The structure, which dates to approximately 800 BCE, features a unique circular sunken plaza decorated with high-relief carvings of serpents and anthropomorphic figures wearing feline masks.
Inside the primary chamber, archaeologists found a large ceremonial stone altar stained with cinnabar, suggesting its use in ancient ritualistic offerings. The discovery provides crucial evidence of the early religious transition between the Cupisnique and Chavín cultures, highlighting how sacred architecture in the highlands evolved to incorporate complex astronomical alignments with the rising of the Pleiades constellation.