Govind Tekale
Karmactive Staff
Archaeologists have discovered a small sculpture of two toads that tells a powerful story about climate change from nearly 4,000 years ago. The find helps explain how an ancient Peruvian civilization collapsed due to a climate‑driven crisis.
The small sculpture, only 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) tall, was found earlier this year at the Vichama archaeological site, located about 160 kilometers north of Lima, Peru. Dating back 3,800 years, the toad figures were discovered alongside wall carvings showing human‑like figures that appear starved and malnourished.
“The toad is a symbol of a crisis that these populations endured and it represents fertility and prosperity,” explained Tatiana Abad, head of research at Vichama. According to Abad, in ancient Andean beliefs, toads symbolize water, rain, and fertility — exactly what people desperately needed during prolonged droughts.
Vichama was an urban center that thrived between 1800 and 1500 B.C., after the collapse of nearby Caral, one of the oldest cities in the Americas. Both sites are part of what researchers call the Caral‑Supe civilization, which existed from around 3500 to 1800 B.C., roughly the same era as ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
What makes this discovery especially interesting is how it connects to climate change. The skeletal figures carved on Vichama’s walls show people suffering from malnutrition, likely caused by climate change including extended drought. Climate researchers working with archaeologists have determined that a significant climate shift — often referred to as the 4.2k event around 2200 B.C. — affected civilizations worldwide.
Climate change can have natural causes such as changes in solar activity or volcanic eruptions. While today’s climate change is mainly driven by human activities since the early 1800s, ancient climate shifts occurred naturally and could be equally devastating to early societies.
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Caral, a remarkable city with 32 monumental buildings dating back 5,000 years, developed independently from other world civilizations. Unlike Egypt or Mesopotamia, which had contact with neighbors, Caral grew in isolation, making its achievements even more impressive. The climate crisis that contributed to Caral’s decline affected Vichama as well.
The discovery highlights how ancient people understood and responded to environmental challenges. The toad sculptures were likely associated with rituals asking for rain, showing how important water was to their survival. Alongside the toads, other water‑linked symbols have been found at the site, reinforcing this theory.
When severe drought hit, it didn’t just affect drinking water — it devastated agriculture and food production. The wall carvings of malnourished people tell a stark story of hunger and hardship. Yet the toad symbols also represent hope — a prayer for the return of life‑giving water.
Peru has a rich archaeological history, with famous sites like Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines drawing worldwide attention. But Caral and Vichama offer something different: a glimpse into how early urban societies faced and sometimes fell to climate disasters.
The Vichama site continues to yield important discoveries. Beyond climate insights, evidence suggests women held high status in society equal to men. The community was part of the Caral‑Supe tradition, which used shicra‑bag construction techniques that helped stabilize buildings against earthquakes.
This small toad sculpture reminds us that climate challenges have threatened human societies throughout history. As Tatiana Abad puts it, the toads symbolize both crisis and resilience — the struggle of a people facing environmental disaster, and their hope for renewal through the return of rain.
