Valley of Faces
by hughpierre
Geography
The valley of faces is a narrow canyon in the southeast bordered by volcanic cliffs, some of which are fractured into vertical pillars. Many of these pillars bear incomplete full-body sculptures appearing to melt from the rock after being abandoned. They have since eroded into fanciful shapes or toppled over.
With some imagination, a variety of human and animal faces can be seen in the stone.A dried-out river had cut the narrow canyon through light-coloured volcanic rock. This provided a series of desert-varnished and unvarnished rock on which the ancients etched (and maybe painted) representational human heads.
Ecosystem Cycles
Golden Falls
There are a few waterfalls that are made very toxic from the high amounts of metal minerals from nearby gold and copper mines. The soil and water runoff contain many minerals include sulfur and arsenic that give it its golden colour. This intensity may fluctuate in accordance with the mines' activities, with actual gold flecks tumbling down as well.Climate
Humidity
The faces face a dry-winter in the continental interior with large seasonal temperature differences. The two wettest months of the year are Hatun Cuzqui and Inti Raymi, with brief but strong afternoon thunderstorms during the summer.Fauna & Flora
Birds: Owls, wrens and sparrows peek out from the shade and dark places.
Plants: Flowers and shrubs grow on and under the rocks.
History
Grandiosity
By far, the most distinctive features are the 63 rock-cut human faces carved up to 70 feet into the cliffs. It is assumed that the faces depicted are mud leaders from times gone by.Construction was so dangerous and expensive. Each head bears uniquely individual features that it couldn't possibly be for anyone who wasn't massively influential. They also couldn't be their gods as their adornments are common headbands, simple looped earrings and noise rings that marked their office.The monuments' designers concealed vaults inside the heads intended to contain shrines to the deceased and their possessions. Much of these have long since been looted. Often only leaving a lone stone sarcophagus in the centre.
Tourism
Ch'unchul
An audience area infront the Colossus that is, half and half, over and underground.Stone Falls
A magical waterfall whose water turns anything it touches to stone.
Type
Canyon
Included Locations
Owning Organization
Inhabiting Species
Related Materials
Have a few clown faces appear to freak out visitors, lol.
I don't have any concrete ideas for specific facial features right now. Though having a few distorted, or eroded like the pyramids, into grotesques is an brilliant way to go.