Rare ceremonial heads discovered in Peru shed light on 'Warriors of the Clouds'
The discoveries were made at the Ollape site in the Amazonian district of La Jalca in an area where the Chachapoyas civilization, or "Warriors of the Clouds," developed between 900 and 1,450 A.D.
According to lead archaeologist Pablo Solis, these findings offer a new understanding of the less-studied society that inhabited the area.
The intricately crafted club heads are believed to have held ceremonial significance, hinting at ritual practices of a society whose cultural footprint remains largely unexplored.
The intricate zigzag pattern is the first of its kind to be found in the region, and the number of structures suggests Ollape was an important ceremonial and residential hub.
Peru is rich in archaeological discoveries, with researchers frequently uncovering ancient remains. The country is home to numerous historical sites, including the famous Machu Picchu in the Andean highlands of Cusco and the mysterious Nazca lines etched into the desert along the coast.
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The village in Peru that lives in the dark next to a massive solar plant
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At night, they use torches – or simply live in the paradox is striking: the Rubí solar power plant produces around 440 GWh a year, enough to supply electricity to 351,000 homes. Moquegua, where the plant is located, is an ideal site for solar energy, receiving over 3,200 hours of sunshine annually, more than most that contradiction becomes even sharper in a country currently experiencing a renewable energy 2024 alone, electricity generation from renewables grew by 96%. Solar and wind power depend heavily on copper due to its high conductivity – and Peru is the world's second-largest producer."In Peru, the system was designed around profitability. No effort was made to connect sparsely populated areas," explains Carlos Gordillo, an energy expert at the University of Santa María in says it has fulfilled its responsabilities."We've joined the government project to bring electricity to Pampa Clemesí and have already built a dedicated line for them. We also completed the first phase of the electrification project, with 53 power towers ready to operate," Marco Fragale, Orygen's executive director in Peru, told BBC News Mundo, the BBC's Spanish-language adds that nearly 4,000 metres of underground cable were installed to provide a power line for the village. The $800,000 investment is complete, he the lights still haven't come final step – connecting the new line to individual homes – is the government's responsibility. According to the plan, the Ministry of Mines and Energy must lay about two kilometres of wiring. Work was slated to begin in March 2025, but hasn't News Mundo tried to contact the Ministry of Mines and Energy but received no response. A daily struggle for basics Rosa's tiny house has no day, she walks around the village, hoping someone can spare a bit of electricity to charge her phone."It's essential," she says, explaining she needs the device to stay in touch with her family near the border with of the few people who can help is Rubén Pongo. In his larger home – with patios and several rooms – a group of speckled hens fights for rooftop space between the solar panels. "The company donated solar panels to most villagers," he says. "But I had to buy the battery, the converter, and the cables myself – and pay for installation."Rubén owns something others only dream of: a fridge. But it only runs for up to 10 hours a day, and on cloudy days, not at helped build the Rubí plant and later worked in maintenance, cleaning the panels. 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"We stayed because we had no choice. But with light, we could build a future."A soft breeze stirs the desert streets, lifting sand. A layer of dust settles on the lampposts on the main plaza, waiting to be installed. The wind signals that dusk is coming – and that soon, there will be no those without solar panels, like Rosa and Pedro, the darkness stretches on until sunrise. So does their hope that the government will one day so many nights before, they prepare for another evening without why do they still live here?"Because of the sun," Rosa replies without hesitation."Here, we always have the sun."
