Discovered only 14 years ago the temple of Monte Grande in Peru has changed the history books of cacao and its origins. Vessels found within the temple site contain the worlds oldest cacao that can be dated back almost 7500 years. With genetic testing showing it is the same cacao that grows in this region today. Previously it was argued that cacao was first domesticated by the Olmecan tribes of central America but this recent find of Monte Grande pre-dates these tribes by over 2000 years. 

The temple was believed to be built by the Chinchipe tribes that inhabited the area of the Chinchipe-Marañon binational river basin. The 14 year study into the origins of the temple is being led by Peruvian archaeologist Quirino Olivera, who believes it is not only the single most significant discovery in the history of cacao but is also shedding light on the origins of the entire Pre-European culture of Peru and South America. There is evidence in the temple of spiritual practices, agriculture, architecture, cosmovision, art and culture. An advanced civilisation that created the entire Amazonian and Andean cosmovision that eventually developed into the Incan empire, one of the great civilisations of the ancient world. The huaca (temple) is also a sacred site with evidence of burials and graves of shamanic priests or people of high spiritual status.

Yet despite its importance and global significance Monte Grande is in immediate danger of being lost as the funds for research have stopped and with no funding source secured in the immediate future the 5-story deep temple is set to be re-buried as according to Peruvian law of archaeological sites. The project requires significant support and funding in order to continue the incredible discoveries being made and to protect the world’s oldest cacao. The discovery was recently named one of the top 10 Archaeological discoveries at the global Archaeological Forum but unfortunately the academic and political worlds do not always align. 

How you can help?

Please help us by adding a donation towards the temple through our website. Every month we will send all donations directly to ASICAMPE (Association for the scientific research in the Amazon of Peru) who is supporting Quirino Olivera and his team to ensure that the project can continue and we can preserve this incredible history of cacao. Everything donated will directly contribute towards the project minus a 2.9% credit card fee.

Funds will be used for the following project:

Keep Huaca Monte Grande open to protect cultural heritage

Fund ongoing excavations and research

Preserve ancient artifacts

Empower cultural renewal of Chinchipe descendants and local Awajun communities

Foster alliances with local farmers and associations to protect ancient cacao tree varieties

Support the local economy through cultural heritage, education and ethical cacao tourism

Learn more about Monte Grande:

The huaca Monte Grande was crafted in the shape of a women giving birth, with the womb represented as a spiral. The spiral also is a representation of the Amaru (serpent) and the realm of the Ukhu Pacha (underworld) that is our connection to ancestors. The direction of the spiral is also important as it’s shape is constructed anti-clockwise which is believed to be a representation of a backwards movement through time, depicting the concept not of birth but of re-birth. In the centre of the spiral was found a grave of a women, buried with vessels containing cacao. From this we can understand cacao is centripetal to the process of re-birth and the spiral acts as a portal into the next life for the Chinchipe people.