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An enormous stone temple constructed around 1,000 years ago by one of the greatest civilizations in South American history has recently been discovered in the Andes mountain range.
Archaeologists discovered the temple Also referred to as Palaspata, this site sits at the top of a ridge within the isolated upland region located to the southeast of Lake Titicaca, close to the village of Ocotavi in western Bolivia.
This massive construction was created by the Tiwanaku civilization, known for leaving behind remarkable achievements such as sophisticated stonework, intricate irrigation networks, distinctive artistic expressions, and ceramics—before mysteriously disappearing around the year 1000 AD.
Spanning an expanse comparable to that of a typical city block, the location extends about 410 feet in length and 476 feet in width.
It consists of 15 rectangular structures positioned around a central open space, seemingly aligned with the solar equinox—when the sun rises exactly above the equator—and frequently marks characterized by significant ceremonial days in early civilizations .
The group estimates that over 20,000 individuals might have inhabited this area, since certain structures were built using stones exceeding 100 tons in weight—evidence of sophisticated coordination and design.
"This wasn’t merely a religious site—it served as a key strategic center and a gateway connecting the highland and lowland trading networks," said Dr. José Capriles, principal archaeologist from Penn State University and one of the study’s authors.
This was a crossroads where people, merchandise, and deities converged.
The recently uncovered archaeological complex lies approximately 130 miles south of the well-known Tiwanaku heritage site, situated atop a hill recognized by nearby Indigenous agricultural communities. Despite being familiar to locals, the area has not been thoroughly examined by scientists because its modest setting made it seem unpromising for major discoveries.
Radiocarbon analysis showed that the location was primarily used between A.D. 630 and 950, coinciding with the time when the Tiwanaku culture extended its reach into the eastern valleys.
"Their civilization declined around 1000 AD and had already fallen into decay before the arrival of the Inca conquests across the Andes during the fifteenth century," stated Dr. Capriles.
It featured an exceptionally well-organized social system and left behind impressive architectural remains such as pyramids, stepped temples, and large stone structures, many of which can be found at locations near Lake Titicaca.
stood adorned with towering red sandstone pillars. White quartzite rocks outlining its boundary.
Although most of the original structure has crumbled, its rectangular layout and celestial orientation remain evident, with fragments scattered across the site.
The main courtyard might originally have contained an underground ritual square, which was characteristic of Tiwanaku temple design.
Scattered across the temple’s surface were remnants of keru cups, which were utilized for consuming chicha—a customary maize-based beer—during farming-related festivals and gatherings, highlighting its significance as an essential trading center, as explained by Capriles.
He explained that since maize wasn’t cultivated locally but rather in the Cochabamba valleys—unlike at the high-altitude temple location—this underscores the importance of the temple as a hub for accessing various resources like food and connecting distinct culinary practices.
"The discoveries unearthed at Palaspata hold great importance as they bring attention to a key element of our regional history that was previously ignored," stated Justo Ventura Guarayo, the mayor of Caracollo municipality, where the excavation site lies.
This finding is crucial for our neighborhood.
The Palaspata complex went unnoticed by archaeologists until recent times, when strange geometric patterns were observed in satellite imagery.
Scientists later employed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), often referred to as a drone, along with 3D imaging methods to verify the existence of a human-built structure.
"Since the features were extremely subtle, we combined multiple satellite images," explained Dr. Capriles.
Close by, at a lesser-known excavation location named Ocotavi 1, scientists discovered dwellings, implements, remains of animals, and human graves featuring modified skulls—an indicator of elevated social standing within Andean society.
Close by, at a lesser-known excavation location named Ocotavi 1, archaeologists discovered dwellings, implements, remains of animals, and human graves featuring modified skulls—an indicator of elevated social standing within Andean society.
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