The discovery of an ancient temple in Bolivia is shedding new light on the mysterious Tiwanaku society an Andean civilization that predates the Inca Empire and revealing clues about its religious and political practices.
Scientists in Bolivia have made a major archaeological breakthrough, uncovering the ruins of an ancient temple belonging to the enigmatic Tiwanaku culture, which vanished around A.D. 1000.
The temple, known as Palaspata, was found in the highlands of the Caracollo municipality, southeast of Lake Titicaca—an area previously overlooked by earlier investigations. Located roughly 210 kilometers south of the Tiwanaku capital, the site provides valuable evidence about the extent and influence of this ancient society.
Professor José Capriles, lead researcher, notes that the temple’s architectural features terraces, a sunken courtyard, and fifteen surrounding chambers arranged around a central plaza reflect the characteristic style of the Tiwanaku. The main entrance is aligned with the solar solstice, indicating a likely religious function.
On the temple’s surface, archaeologists found keru cups, vessels used for drinking a fermented corn beverage, suggesting that the site hosted large ceremonies and community gatherings.
The discovery offers insight into the temple’s strategic location, which appears to have served as a control point for trade and religious activities, reinforcing Tiwanaku influence in the region. According to Capriles, the Tiwanaku were a complex society with an organized social structure that developed independently. They managed trade and intercommunity contacts through llama caravans.
Despite archaeological research dating back to the 1860s, the Tiwanaku civilization remains enigmatic. Its collapse is believed to have been caused by drought or environmental degradation, which may have triggered social unrest and possible uprisings. The discovery of the Palaspata temple opens new possibilities for understanding this pre-Inca culture and its religious, political, and economic systems.
