Asana, Peru

A high-altitude archaeological site at 3,430 m elevation along the Asana River in the south-central Andes, occupied for roughly 8,000 years beginning c. 8500 BC. Excavated by Mark Aldenderfer in 1986-1990, the site revealed a transition from mobile foragers to settled communities with residential architecture. A pre-ceramic ceremonial structure dating to 5500-3600 BP represents some of the earliest evidence of the Kotosh Religious Tradition.