# Bongers 2025: Indigenous accounting and exchange at Monte Sierpe ('Band of Holes') in the Pisco Valley, Peru > Jacob L. Bongers, Christopher A. Kiahtipes, David Beresford-Jones et al., 2025. 42 records on Mysteries Department cite it. The main source for the site… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) --- [Sources](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources)[Monte Sierpe, the "Band of Holes"](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes)Bongers 2025 **0** # Indigenous accounting and exchange at Monte Sierpe ('Band of Holes') in the Pisco Valley, Peru Jacob L. Bongers, Christopher A. Kiahtipes, David Beresford-Jones et al., 2025. _Antiquity 100(409), 145–163_. Drone and GNSS mapping of the 1.5 km band of about 5200 holes, a radiocarbon date from one hole, surface ceramics, and pollen, phytolith and starch analysis of 21 sediment samples. Finds numerical patterning in hole counts per row and section, maize and other crop pollen and basketry plants in the holes, and argues for a Chincha-period barter marketplace later used by the Inca as an accounting device. **Monte Sierpe, the "Band of Holes"** ArticleCopy of **[The Band of Holes](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/artifacts/ART0D5PHB487GFK/the-band-of-holes)** doi: **[10.15184/aqy.2025.10237](https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2025.10237)** Checked against the original0 ## What it's used for here The main source for the site description, the data and the accounting and exchange answer. ## Cited by on this site 42 records [Regular counts arise from building practice, such as fixed band width and hole size, without encoding numbers.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/answers/ANS0D5PH9NC4QZZ/regular-counts-arise-from-building-practice-such-as-fixed) Answer ANS [Section and row counts record quantities or groups in a decimal or khipu-like system.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/answers/ANS0D5PH95R5C7G/section-and-row-counts-record-quantities-or-groups-in-a) Answer ANS [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) Answer ANS [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) Answer ANS [The band was built in the Late Intermediate Period under the Chincha and continued in use under the Inca.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/answers/ANS0D5PH7YP196P/the-band-was-built-in-the-late-intermediate-period-under-the) Answer ANS [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) Answer ANS [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) Answer ANS [Khipu from near Pisco (VA 16135a/b)](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/artifacts/ART0D5PHCBA4NBR/khipu-from-near-pisco-va-16135a-b) ART [Robert Shippee's aerial photograph of the band (Shippee-Johnson expedition)](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/artifacts/ART0D5PHCTY6HV7/robert-shippees-aerial-photograph-of-the-band-shippee) ART [Sediment samples from 19 holes and two controls](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/artifacts/ART0D5PHC3G1K5B/sediment-samples-from-19-holes-and-two-controls) ART [The Band of Holes](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/artifacts/ART0D5PHB487GFK/the-band-of-holes) ART [Khipu from near Pisco (VA 16135a/b): photo](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/copies/CPY0D5PHCK46X5Y/khipu-from-near-pisco-va-16135a-b-photo) CPY [Robert Shippee's aerial photograph of the band (Shippee-Johnson expedition): photo](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/copies/CPY0D5PHD2R1CFQ/robert-shippees-aerial-photograph-of-the-band-shippee) CPY [The Band of Holes: photo](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/copies/CPY0D5PHBKW19SY/the-band-of-holes-photo) CPY [The Band of Holes: photo](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/copies/CPY0D5PHBC25NX9/the-band-of-holes-photo) CPY [Phytolith and starch grain counts (Tables S3–S4)](https://mysteriesdept.com/datasets/DAT0D5PHAMM6SDW/phytolith-and-starch-grain-counts-tables-s3s4) Dataset DAT [Pollen counts per sediment sample (Tables S1–S2)](https://mysteriesdept.com/datasets/DAT0D5PHACT506A/pollen-counts-per-sediment-sample-tables-s1s2) Dataset DAT [Band width varies from 14 to 22 m and section boundaries are partly subjective, which could drive count…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH9X678WS/band-width-varies-from-14-to-22-m-and-section-boundaries-are) Evidence EVD [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) Evidence EVD [Crop pollen and basketry plants fit goods placed in the holes.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH5RC74VY/crop-pollen-and-basketry-plants-fit-goods-placed-in-the) Evidence EVD [Hole 1905-01 charcoal AD 1320–1405 (95.4%); Late Intermediate Period sherds on the band.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH86G52ZK/hole-1905-01-charcoal-ad-13201405-95-4-late-intermediate) Evidence EVD [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) Evidence EVD [No fortification, attack evidence or slingstones along the band.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH6FT3B88/no-fortification-attack-evidence-or-slingstones-along-the) Evidence EVD [No human remains except a few intrusive tombs at the south end; no copper or silver ore.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH7F22ZX0/no-human-remains-except-a-few-intrusive-tombs-at-the-south) Evidence EVD [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) Evidence EVD [No rain at this altitude, no groundwater on the slope, and fog oases too brief to grow maize.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH6ZE1M24/no-rain-at-this-altitude-no-groundwater-on-the-slope-and-fog) Evidence EVD [Repeated counts of seven and eight per row in several sections.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH9DJ2WGB/repeated-counts-of-seven-and-eight-per-row-in-several) Evidence EVD [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) Evidence EVD [The counting layout and crossing gaps between sections suit display and tallying more than storage.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH6060K9Z/the-counting-layout-and-crossing-gaps-between-sections-suit) Evidence EVD [The one dated hole is probably pre-Inca or at the transition (AD 1320–1405).](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/evidence/EVD0D5PH8P46Y38/the-one-dated-hole-is-probably-pre-inca-or-at-the-transition) Evidence EVD [Antiquity publishes the accounting and exchange study](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/events/EVT0D5PH32E464T/antiquity-publishes-the-accounting-and-exchange-study) EVT [Charcoal deposited in hole 1905-01](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/events/EVT0D5PH2366PF2/charcoal-deposited-in-hole-1905-01) EVT [Drone mapping and sediment sampling under a Ministry of Culture permit](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/events/EVT0D5PH2TM5THA/drone-mapping-and-sediment-sampling-under-a-ministry-of) EVT [National Geographic publishes Robert Shippee's aerial photograph of the band](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/events/EVT0D5PH2B025ME/national-geographic-publishes-robert-shippees-aerial) EVT [The Chincha Kingdom controls the Chincha and Pisco valleys](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/events/EVT0D5PH2JT2A15/the-chincha-kingdom-controls-the-chincha-and-pisco-valleys) EVT [The Inca absorb the Chincha Kingdom and reorganise tribute on a decimal system](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/events/EVT0D5PH2TM0XYH/the-inca-absorb-the-chincha-kingdom-and-reorganise-tribute) EVT [Jacob L. Bongers](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/people/FIG0D5PH13Y1H6F/jacob-l-bongers) FIG [Robert Shippee](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/people/FIG0D5PH1VC4X73/robert-shippee) FIG [Monte Sierpe, the "Band of Holes"](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes) The mystery article MYS [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) Question QST [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) Question QST [When was the band dug, and over how long was it used?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/monte-sierpe-band-of-holes/questions/QST0D5PH3J215JA/when-was-the-band-dug-and-over-how-long-was-it-used) Question QST ## Cite it ``` Bongers, J. L., Kiahtipes, C. A., Beresford-Jones, D., Osborn, J., Medrano, M., Dumitru, I. A., Bergmann, C., Román, J., Tavera Medina, C., Tantaleán, H., Huamán Mesía, L., & Stanish, C. (2025). Indigenous accounting and exchange at Monte Sierpe ('Band of Holes') in the Pisco Valley, Peru. Antiquity 100(409), 145–163. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2025.10237 ``` [Read it free at doi.org](https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2025.10237) Key **SRC** 0D5PGXYC4EXR Kind Journal article Rights CC-BY-4.0 Kept 27 Oct 2026 Checked Against the published article Added by [apollo](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo) The record Bibliographic records are CC0. Take this one as CSL-JSON, BibTeX or RIS. [CSL-JSON](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5PGXYC4EXR/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of/csl.json)