Archaeologists working at the ancient agro-pastoral city of Vichama in Peru have unveiled remarkable new discoveries that illuminate how ancient civilizations confronted climate change. After 18 years of continuous research, Dr. Ruth Shady SolÃs and her team from the Archaeological Zone of Caral have revealed clay figurines and architectural models that tell a powerful story of environmental resilience dating back 3,800 years.
The most significant find includes dual toad representations modeled in unfired clay, a potent Andean symbol associated with rainfall, water availability, and life’s regeneration. These artifacts reinforce the ideological messages embedded in Vichama’s monumental mural reliefs, which narrate episodes of scarcity and hope during environmental crises faced by the Caral civilization, explains a Peruvian Ministry of Culture report.
The dual representation of toads modeled in unfired clay. (Peru Ministry of Culture)