For the past 15 years, the exciting excavation of Peru’s oldest temple, “Huaca Montegrande,” has provided remarkable findings about pre-Columbian Peruvian culture. This archeological dig sheds light on the ancient spiritual uses of cacao and the oldest traces of domesticated cacao. 

Continue reading to learn some of the highlights of this tremendous excavation. 

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Discoveries of Huaca Montegrande 

Huaca Montegrande is an ancient temple in the Cajamarca region of Peru that has been under excavation for 15 years. Recent findings show that Huaca Montegrande is actually a cacao temple of the Marañon people and home to the oldest known traces of domesticated cacao. Carbon dating shows traces of a fermented cacao beverage in 6,000 year old pottery at the ancient temple. 🤯

 The discoveries emerging from this site reveal more about the long standing relationship with sacred cacao for the Marañons, who are now recognized as the world’s earliest stewards of cacao. 

Here are some of highlights of the cacao discoveries:

• Huaca Montegrande is Peru’s oldest monumental temple, dating back over 6,000 years—older than the Egyptian pyramids and Mesopotamia.
• This site, constructed by the ancient Marañon people in the Peruvian Amazon, holds the world’s oldest traces of domesticated cacao.
• The ceremonial pottery discovered in the temple contains traces of fermented cacao beverages, carbon-dated to be at least 5,500 years old.
• Huaca Montegrande was the spiritual heart of the Marañon society, where cacao was deeply revered and central to their ceremonies.
• Most of the artifacts—pottery, stone sculptures, jewelry, and bone carvings—feature cacao motifs, confirming the central role of cacao in their spiritual practices. (Check out the image of the cacao necklace below!)
• The temple is erected in a double spiral structure, harking to the spiral symbolism that bridges many ancient cultures.
• At the center of this spiral, the temple contains two tombs of the female leaders of the temple. This underscores the centrality of female spiritual leadership in cacao tradition. 
• The stones used in the structure come from mountains and rivers. They are thought to balance and amplify the energetic polarities of the feminine river and masculine mountains. 
• The temple as it stands today is surrounded by centuries old cacao trees. Genetic testing shows that the cacao varieties found in the temple are the same as the ancient cacao trees still growing today on the site. These living trees serve as a direct link between the past and present.

These discoveries expand our awareness with greater insight of ancient cacao practices and insight into the oldest known traces of domesticated cacao! 

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