The city of Aguada Fenis became the central point of the complex, where between 1050 and 700 BC, canals were built that reached 35 meters in width and 5 meters in depth, connecting the Narihito lagoon with the surrounding areas. Archaeologists established that this structure primarily had symbolic significance. The foundation consisted of the four cardinal directions, marked by colors, the traces of which were found in a cross-shaped pit at the center: azurite, malachite, ochre, and red shells.
These symbols of color directions are considered the oldest in Mesoamerica. The shells also personified water and the World Ocean, reflecting the ancient people's views on the integrity of the world.
The canals were not used for transportation or irrigation, as no traces of economic activity have been found in the area. They served as corridors for ritual processions, where people gathered from all corners to participate in ceremonies and festivals. Thus, the communities "materialized" their understanding of the structure of the Universe.
The construction of the complex required colossal resources: about 193,000 cubic meters of soil were excavated. However, the project remained unfinished, as one of the canals was not completed. Scientists suggest that the volume of work proved too large for communities that lacked experience in implementing such large-scale hydraulic projects.
Researchers emphasize that Aguada Fenis refutes the theory that only centralized power can organize large collective projects. In this case, the driving force was not political structures, but ritual unity and shared cosmological beliefs.
Earlier, a group of international scientists discovered traces of an ancient population that lived in central Argentina more than 8,500 years ago. The genetic legacy of this population has been preserved in modern Argentinians.
