# What was the Band of Holes for? · Monte Sierpe, the "Band of Holes" > Six answers have been proposed. The band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/questions/QST0D5PH3A81KKC/what-was-the-band-of-holes-for Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:10+00:00 --- **0** # What was the Band of Holes for? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·6 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Six answers have been proposed. The band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to… leads, with evidence 4 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Five are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters A 1.5 km band of 5200 regular holes is unique in the Andes, and its function has been guessed at since 1933⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of). The 2025 study offers the first evidence-based test of the rival ideas. ## Answers 6 [**The band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/answers/ANS0D5PH41P67WK/the-band-was-a-chincha-barter-marketplace-where-goods-were) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 4 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/answers/ANS0D5PH7PW38NT/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The band was a defensive obstacle, like the Iron Age pit belts of northern Europe.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/answers/ANS0D5PH6800G94/the-band-was-a-defensive-obstacle-like-the-iron-age-pit) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**The holes caught fog or water to grow plants in sunken gardens.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/answers/ANS0D5PH6QM6WK9/the-holes-caught-fog-or-water-to-grow-plants-in-sunken) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**The holes were graves or mining pits.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/answers/ANS0D5PH7782HN2/the-holes-were-graves-or-mining-pits) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**The holes were storage pits along the Inca road.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/answers/ANS0D5PH5GJ25XX/the-holes-were-storage-pits-along-the-inca-road) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [Show 1 more answer] ## History 1. 1984[Hyslop puts forward: the holes were storage pits along the Inca road.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGYNT79X8/the-inka-road-system) 1. 2024[Medrano & Khosla: cord groups of 10, 11 or 12 on the Pisco khipu VA 16135 resemble the sectioned layout.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGYXM4GHV/how-can-data-science-contribute-to-understanding-the-khipu)For: The band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to… 1. 2025[Bongers et al. puts forward: the band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of) 1. 2025[Bongers et al. puts forward: the band was a defensive obstacle, like the Iron Age pit belts of northern Europe.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of) 1. 2025[Bongers et al. puts forward: the holes caught fog or water to grow plants in sunken gardens.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of) 1. 2025[Bongers et al. puts forward: the holes were graves or mining pits.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of) 1. 2025[Bongers et al.: rows within sections repeat fixed hole counts (e.g. nine rows of eight; rows alternating seven and eight).](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of)For: The band was a Chincha barter marketplace where goods were laid out in holes, later used under the Inca to… 1. 2025[Bongers et al.: the counting layout and crossing gaps between sections suit display and tallying more than storage.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of)Against: The holes were storage pits along the Inca road. 1. 2025[Bongers et al.: crop pollen and basketry plants fit goods placed in the holes.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of)For: The holes were storage pits along the Inca road. 1. 2025[Bongers et al.: no fortification, attack evidence or slingstones along the band.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of)Against: The band was a defensive obstacle, like the Iron Age pit belts of northern Europe. 1. 2025[Bongers et al.: no rain at this altitude, no groundwater on the slope, and fog oases too brief to grow maize.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of)Against: The holes caught fog or water to grow plants in sunken gardens. 1. 2025[Bongers et al.: no human remains except a few intrusive tombs at the south end; no copper or silver ore.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of)Against: The holes were graves or mining pits. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/questions/QST0D5PH3A81KKC/what-was-the-band-of-holes-for%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/questions/QST0D5PH3A81KKC/what-was-the-band-of-holes-for%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/questions/QST0D5PH3A81KKC/what-was-the-band-of-holes-for%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/questions/QST0D5PH3A81KKC/what-was-the-band-of-holes-for%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/questions/QST0D5PH3A81KKC/what-was-the-band-of-holes-for%23add-source) Where it fits Monte Sierpe, the "Band of Holes" **What was the Band of Holes for?** Key question · you're here [Do the hole counts encode numbers in the way khipus do?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/questions/QST0D5PH3SW7XMQ/do-the-hole-counts-encode-numbers-in-the-way-khipus-do)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]