4,000-Year-Old Temple and Theater Unearthed in Peru

Discovery at La Otra Banda site reveals early origins of institutionalized religion in the Andes

Archaeologists found a temple and small theater near Zaña, Peru, dating back 4,000 years.
The site includes elaborately carved mud panels depicting a mythological bird-like creature.
This discovery predates Machu Picchu by approximately 3,500 years.
The findings provide new insights into the emergence of complex belief systems in ancient Peru.
Pigment samples from murals will be analyzed to determine the site's exact age.