A team of international researchers using muon tomography has detected a previously unknown 2,800-year-old sanctuary dubbed the Temple of the Lapis-Fanged Serpent in Peru's northern highlands. The structure includes a series of subterranean chambers containing high-purity lapis lazuli carvings representing a fanged deity associated with the pre-Chavin culture.
The discovery is significant as it provides the first evidence of large-scale lapis lazuli processing in the region during the Formative Period. The site’s specific alignment with the winter solstice suggests it served both as a ritual center and an astronomical observatory for early Andean agrarian societies, tracking celestial movements to predict seasonal shifts.