Cumbemayo

Cumbemayo is a pre-Columbian archaeological complex at 3,500 metres elevation, about 20 km southwest of Cajamarca, Peru. Its centrepiece is an approximately 8 km long aqueduct built between 1500-1000 BC, considered one of the most significant pieces of pre-Columbian hydraulic engineering. The canal features precisely carved straight, curved, and zigzag sections thought to slow water flow, with petroglyphs along its walls showing Chavin cultural influence. The surrounding landscape includes Los Frailones, volcanic stone pillars up to 18 metres tall eroded into shapes resembling a procession of monks. Discovered in 1937, archaeologist Julio C. Tello led the first investigation.