A breakthrough excavation in the Orinoco Basin has revealed a network of ceremonial offering pits lined with tourmaline and containing charred remains of tropical fruits and feline-themed ceramics. These 2,000-year-old sites are positioned along the riverbank, strategically aligned with the rising sun of the vernal equinox. The discovery suggests that ancient inhabitants practiced elaborate water-management rites that eventually evolved into the region's 'River-Jaguar' cultural celebrations.
Researchers state that the use of tourmaline—a gemstone believed to hold protective properties—indicates the high spiritual value placed on the river’s health. The ceremonial artifacts found within the pits, including jaguar-headed ocarinas, were likely used to produce soundscapes mimicking the growls of predators, intended to 'guard' the waterways. This research provides a new timeline for the emergence of complex religious structures in pre-Columbian South America, highlighting the deep antiquity of indigenous water worship.