Image Credit: CLAUDIOLD, Wikimedia Commons

Lost Tiwanaku Temple Discovered in Bolivia

Archaeologists have discovered a lost temple complex in Bolivia that may unlock secrets of the Tiwanaku civilization, one of the Andes' earliest and most powerful cultures, which mysteriously collapsed around 1000 A.D.
Located 130 miles south of the main Tiwanaku site, the newly uncovered hilltop temple includes a large sunken courtyard and aligns with solar equinox rituals, indicating religious significance. Researchers used satellite imagery and 3D photogrammetry to detect faint stone patterns outlining the 410 x 475-foot complex.
Findings at the site include keru cups for drinking chicha (maize beer) during rituals, suggesting the site was a religious and trade hub, with maize sourced from far-off lowland valleys. The discovery supports the idea that divine rituals played a central role in economic and political cooperation.
The city of Caracollo, where the site was found, is now working with authorities to protect this cultural heritage. Researchers believe the temple offers key insights into Tiwanaku’s influence, governance, and eventual decline.

Published on: 27-06-2025

Source: Popular Mechanics