The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has unveiled a groundbreaking discovery at Gran Pajatén, a historically significant and mysterious archaeological site attributed to the Chachapoya civilization in Peru’s San Martín region. Nestled within the Río Abiseo National Park, a UNESCO Mixed World Heritage site recognized for both its cultural and ecological value, Gran Pajatén has now revealed over 100 previously undocumented structures—far more than the 26 initially recorded in the 1980s. This finding represents a major leap in our understanding of Chachapoya settlement patterns, architectural practices, and regional influence.

Between 2022 and 2024, WMF’s Peru office led an initiative that integrated exploration, excavation, conservation, and advanced digital documentation to achieve these results.

The Chachapoya, often referred to as the “people of the cloud forest,” inhabited the northeastern Andes between the 7th and 16th centuries. Living at elevations between 2,000 and 3,000 m (approximately 6,500 to 9,800 feet), they built intricate cities, ceremonial platforms, cliffside tombs, and agricultural terraces in some of the region’s most inaccessible terrain. Despite being organized into separate chiefdoms, they shared a cohesive artistic and architectural identity—most evident in their circular buildings, geometric friezes, and elaborately decorated cliffside funerary constructions. Though they resisted Inca domination, the Chachapoya were ultimately integrated into the Inca Empire by the late 15th century, just prior to Spanish colonization.

Discovered in the 1960s, Gran Pajatén has long been recognized as one of the most striking remnants of Chachapoya heritage. It contains ceremonial architecture adorned with stone mosaics, relief friezes, and dramatic views of the surrounding cloud forest. However, much of the site remained obscured by dense vegetation, leaving its scale and function largely unknown. Due to the fragile ecosystem of Río Abiseo National Park, tourist access to the site remains restricted.

To uncover the site’s hidden structures, researchers used cutting-edge tools such as aerial and terrestrial LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry, topographic mapping, and technomorphological analysis. These methods enabled detailed mapping beneath the forest canopy, allowing archaeologists to document the site with precision while minimizing environmental disturbance.

“This discovery radically expands our understanding of Gran Pajatén and raises new questions about the site’s role in the Chachapoya world. Evidence now confirms that it is not an isolated complex but part of an articulated network of pre-Hispanic settlements from different periods,” said Juan Pablo de la Puente Brunke, Executive Director of WMF in Peru.

“What makes this moment so meaningful is not only the scale of what’s been uncovered, but how we were able to do it,” added Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of WMF. “By using advanced technology, our team was able to gather extraordinary visual and scientific documentation that brings Gran Pajatén to life—all while preserving its delicate environment. Though the site itself remains out of reach for most, these tools will allow us to share its stories widely through thoughtful, immersive digital storytelling.”

Archaeological evidence confirms Chachapoya presence at Gran Pajatén from at least the 14th century, with soil analysis suggesting even earlier use. Additionally, the discovery of pre-Hispanic roads linking the site with others—such as La Playa, Papayas, and Los Pinchudos—indicates Gran Pajatén was part of a connected and hierarchical landscape.

As part of the project, conservation specialists also intervened at one of Gran Pajatén’s key structures. Their work included clearing vegetation, producing detailed digital records, and physically stabilizing the structure by reinforcing stairs and reliefs, reassembling parts of the perimeter wall, and using a specially developed clay-based mortar to preserve authenticity.

“This work constitutes a pioneering intervention that will serve as a model for future conservation actions in the area,” stated Dr. Ricardo Morales Gamarra, who led the conservation component of the project.

A free exhibition at the Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI) will run through June 18, offering the public a chance to delve into the Chachapoya culture and explore WMF’s latest discoveries.