EL GRAN PAJATEN, THE PEOPLE OF DARKNESS

  

The latest discoveries in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest have once again highlighted one of the most mysterious and least studied civilizations in the country, THE CHACHAPOYAS, who had their origin in the thick and unknown Amazon jungle between the 8th and 14th centuries a.c

 In this area of ​​the high jungle of Peru characterized by humid tropical forests, it is common for the climate to present us with excessive cloudiness and it is in these forests of frequent fog where the CHACHAPOYAS managed to develop for many centuries in total isolation from the other Peruvian civilizations that developed on the coast and in the Andes. Geographically, EL GRAN PAJATEN is located in the ABISEO river basin in the province of Mariscal Caceres, district of Huicungo on the border between the regions of La Libertad and San Martín, in the northern jungle of Peru.

 

 Although for many years in the Andean towns of northern Peru (Pataz) it was often heard from some muleteers that there existed in the depths of the jungle a city full of riches and treasures, but for many this was just a legend ... until the year 1963 and by chance a group of settlers discovered the mysterious GREAT PAJATEN which is how this lost city is known, the story goes that a group of settlers from the province of PATAZ in the region of La Libertad located 400 kilometers from the city of Trujillo organized to go in search of new lands for farming and grazing, so they organized a large expedition with logistics, supplies and horses. This unusual expedition was led by the mayor of the town Don CARLOS TOMAS TORREALBA.

  

A few weeks after leaving the high mountains of the Andes this group of expeditionaries making their way through the undergrowth with machetes arrived at the lush and impenetrable Amazon jungle braving rare diseases, poisonous reptiles, and torrential rains, they lost human lives and horses when entering an unknown and mysterious terrain, but driven by the need to get new lands and a new route to reach the jungle they managed to find on their way to the famous lost city of CHACHAPOYAS effectively in front of this incredulous group of men stood imposing circular structures from whose roofs hung wooden ornaments with male sculptures with erect penises that they baptized as "pinchudos".

  

This news caused a great impact in the scientific world of the time so much so that a new expedition was organized, this time they would be led by archaeologists and researchers, the expedition would be led by the archaeologist GENE SAVOY (who would not reach the place) the Italian-Peruvian archaeologist DUCCIO BONAVIA, the Peruvian archaeologist and architect VÍCTOR PIMENTEL GURMENDI accompanied by Torrealba himself the expedition left for the jungle in November 1,965.

  

Once they arrived at their destination, they were amazed to see how, despite the passage of time, the remains of a great city, partly devoured by the Amazon jungle, still displayed its architectural beauty. They also saw the construction style of the Chachapoyas, who had imposed their own unique style on their structures with their one- and two-story circular buildings, floating sidewalks, and unique friezes with anthropomorphic motifs in high relief. 

They took the respective measurements, counting 26 buildings found, and found that the area covered some 20,000 square meters, which denoted the magnitude of this colossal city, which during its heyday housed a large population of which little is known.

  

Probably with the human eye we can only observe today only 5% of all the monumental infrastructure of the GREAT PAJATEN and although in recent days (May 2025) new structures have been found "the great Pajaten" does not cease to surprise us, but the remoteness of the area and the complicated geography has prevented it from being looted, it is also true that this prevents for now its best investigation. This mysterious place for hours is waiting for us to one day unravel the mysteries of this great lost city of the Chachapoyas.