Ancient Carved Stones of
Checta Peru

By Kathy Doore
© Labyrinthina.com


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Near the quaint village of Santa Rosa de Quives two hours northeast of Lima, Peru one finds the phenomenal archaeological site known as Checta. A Quechua word meaning "one of many," Checta is home to hundreds of pre-Incan carved petroglyphs.

This ancient 5,000 years old site once encompassed a large lake and temple complex buried for eons under a landslide high above the valley. In one dreadful moment in 1925 hundreds of ancient carved stones were revealed when a deadly avalanche stormed down the valley killing 14,000 people.

The day we arrived we were introduced to Doņa Consuelo Livia, an 88-year-old great grandmother known as the Protectress of Checta. For more then 60 years she has dedicated herself to the preservation of the site.

Consuelo happily greeted us eager to share her stories.

These days arthritis keeps Consuelo from visiting her beloved stones high on the hills above her modest home.

She fondly remembered her old friends, the carved stones. "Spirits protect this place," she mused, as she pointed toward the site.

For Consuelo, it all started when she was a young mother in the early 1930's. Incredibly one night she dreamed of an old man who revealed the mountain and carved stones to her, then gave her a mission. She was to create a cross and erect it on the site, thus bringing sanctity back to the ancient temple.

At that time the area was completely barren, there were no houses or people, just the mountain and the stones. She and her young daughter labored alone to create and erect the Cross, then she dedicated her life to the protection of the site.

Beaming with pride at the years of service God had entrusted her, she spoke of the spirit of place and the living stones. Her life was a modest one lived in a small adobe home with dirt floors, sparse furnishings, and the donations that visitors would leave. This pittance provided for very little although she sustained and held the highest intent for Checta without complaint.

We had no reason to doubt this calling and gave her all the money we had, which was not nearly enough, then pledged to tell others about the remarkable carved stones and their protectress.

Out of time and off the beaten path, visitors are rare to Checta. The site is barely accessible and well hidden from the road. A small sign identifies it to motorist, if you blink, you'll miss it.

A difficult climb over a muddy riverbed and steep rocky ledge takes you to the rockslide high on the cliffs above. Here, hundreds of spectacular stones await like Easter eggs before the hunt.

The stones are strewn hither and thither over several acres along a grassy cliff. As we came upon our first stone we felt like giddy children on a treasure hunt. "Look here!" "No, over here!" "I have a better one here!"

We marveled at the carvings ... a strange humanlike face, odd animals, spirals and a dumb-bell, a cross and double helix, shaman, the sun, a strange antlered animal, and many fascinating images that defied the imagination.

Researchers believe that a single culture carved all the stones, but no where did we find a suitable explanation for the marvelous carved images we found that day at Checta.

* * * * *

Village of Santa Rosa de Quives near Checta - Saint Rose was the name given to a seventeenth-century inhabitant of Lima, Isabel Flores de Oliva, who was called to a great religious vocation and dedicated herself to caring for the sick and downtrodden. Her good will earned her respect while she was alive and veneration of her spread not only in Peru, but to the Philippines as well. Saint Rose is the Patron Saint of Peru and her shrine located in downtown Lima, is frequented by pilgrims in search of miracles. On August 30th every year thousands of visitors cast letters detailing their needs into the wishing well of Saint Rose, while others visit the hermitage that the Saint herself built. Although her festival is celebrated across the country it has a special emphasis in the town of Santa Rosa de Quives where Santa Rosa lived.



Like a good mystery? Read:

The Trilogy - An Andean Saga
The discovery of a carved star petroglyph
revealing an ancient hidden mystery!

Ancient Stone Forest of Marcahuasi

Journey with us to Peru

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