A previously unmapped hilltop in central Bolivia revealed a Tiwanaku-period temple complex named Palasapata. The site lay about 210 kilometers south of the main ruins near Lake Titicaca. “The find sheds new light on how Tiwanaku society was at its peak,” said José Capriles, an anthropologist at Penn State, according to Phys.org.
The hill, long cultivated by local farmers, stood where ancient routes linked the lake’s shores, the llama-herding Altiplano, and the maize-growing Cochabamba valleys. “Such placement positioned Palasapata as a natural waypoint for exchanging food, textiles, and ceremonial goods,” said Capriles.
Researchers first noticed a faint quadrangle absent from official maps. They combined high-resolution satellite photographs, then flew drones to gather hundreds of images. Photogrammetry turned the pictures into a three-dimensional model that exposed stone alignments.
The model outlined a complex about 125 by 145 meters with 15 rectangular buildings encircling a courtyard. The long axis framed sunrise and sunset at the equinoxes. Surface surveys recovered fragments of keru drinking cups and vessels for chicha, a maize beer. Because maize does not grow at Palasapata’s altitude, the pottery pointed to trade with lower valleys. “Most economic and political transactions had to be mediated through divinity, because that was a common language that facilitated cooperation,” said Capriles.
“The archaeological findings at Palasapata are significant because they highlight a crucial aspect of our local heritage that had been completely overlooked,” said Justo Ventura Guarayo, mayor of Caracollo. He added that the municipality was coordinating with provincial and national authorities to protect the site.
Centered on the southern shore of Lake Titicaca, Tiwanaku rose before 1000 CE and influenced later Inca builders. Scholars still debate how much authority its leaders held over distant settlements such as Palasapata. “Their society collapsed sometime around 1000 CE and was a ruin by the time the Incas conquered the Andes in the 15th century,” said Capriles.
The research appeared in the journal Antiquity. “There’s still so much to discover that could be hiding in plain sight; it just requires opening your eyes,” said Capriles.
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.