# The band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to…

> Most likely: The band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to collect and account for tribute…

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/answers/ANS0D5PH41P67WK/the-band-was-a-chincha-barter-marketplace-where-goods-were  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Monte Sierpe, the "Band of Holes"](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes)[What was the Band of Holes for?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/questions/QST0D5PH3A81KKC/what-was-the-band-of-holes-for)Answer

Answer · Monte Sierpe, the "Band of Holes"

# The band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to…

The band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to collect and account for tribute by section.

**Most likely** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Most likely** Its tests partly supported it: four pieces of evidence for, one against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Regular, countable layout within sections.
- Crop and container-plant microfossils in the holes, not in controls.
- Use dates in the Late Intermediate Period and Late Horizon.
- Section-level differences in contents or construction that map to groups.

## What would rule it out

- Dates showing the band was built and abandoned before AD 1000, or microfossils no different inside and outside the holes.

## Evidence 4 for · 1 against

[Charcoal from one hole dates to AD 1320–1405; surface pottery is Late Intermediate Period and Inca.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH4S43SPJ/charcoal-from-one-hole-dates-to-ad-13201405-surface-pottery)

Supported

FOR

[Cord groups of 10, 11 or 12 on the Pisco khipu VA 16135 resemble the sectioned layout.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH50Y164Z/cord-groups-of-10-11-or-12-on-the-pisco-khipu-va-16135)

Speculative

FOR

[Maize pollen in at least six holes and near-ubiquitous willow and bulrush pollen, plants used for baskets and…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH4HA7ZR0/maize-pollen-in-at-least-six-holes-and-near-ubiquitous)

Supported

FOR

[Rows within sections repeat fixed hole counts (e.g. nine rows of eight; rows alternating seven and eight).](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH49G1XGP/rows-within-sections-repeat-fixed-hole-counts-e-g-nine-rows)

Supported

FOR

[No non-local goods have been found, and control sample C7 also contained squash starch.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH58R5T7J/no-non-local-goods-have-been-found-and-control-sample-c7)

Suggestive

AGAINST

## The questions it answers

[What was the Band of Holes for?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/questions/QST0D5PH3A81KKC/what-was-the-band-of-holes-for)

Most likelyThe band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to…

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). The band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to… [Answer ANS0D5PH41P67WK]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D5PH41P67WK
```

Key

**ANS** 0D5PH41P67WK

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

Added by

[apollo](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)

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