The Tiwanaku were settled by 400 B.C. on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. The main center developed into a bustling city, constructed with many terraced platform pyramids, courts and urban centers dispersed over 2.31 sq. miles. Today, a small village of Aymara Indians resides in the area close to many of the prehistoric Tiwanaku ruins (Richardson 122).

Archaeological studies of the area have focused mainly on the architecture, which consists of many perfectly carved stones fitted together to form mighty walls and pyramids. It is estimated that between 30,000-40,000 people were living in and around the progressive city. Unfortunately, little is known about the crafts, food storage systems, llama herds or fishing methods the Tiwanaku undoubtedly created.

Alan Kolata, an archaeologist, describes the center of the city and the moat surrounding it saying it was most likely used for ceremonial purposes, not necessarily warfare or defense. Also, because of the yearly torrential rainfall the moats served to distribute the rain to other drainage canals found throughout the city, which dumped it into the Tiwanaku River.

Akapana is the largest pyramid and was once thought to be a modified hill. Its base was later found to be constructed of perfectly cut and joined facing stone blocks, a trademark of their architecture. There were also six "T" shaped terraces with vertical stone pillars, another distinct design. The floors were packed dirt, most likely from the dug out moats surrounding each structure, and the top of Akapana held a sunken court yard (Richardson 122).

Kolata excavated an area near the court yard and found the remains and artifacts of what appeared to be some elite members of their society. The individuals were seated and one had a ceramic vessel depicting a Puma, or American lion, a sacred animal to the Tiwanaku. Also found were ritual offerings of llamas, ceramics, copper, silver and obsidian. From the evidence, they appear to have worshipped a Gateway God, who had winged attendants and was the main deity. The human-like winged creatures are common on many ceramic vessels and are worshipped for the assurance of plentiful agriculture and good herding and fishing in their daily lives (Richardson 125).

They practiced a unique form of agriculture, conducive to the climate and soil in the area. We call it raised field agriculture today and it enabled them to utilize wetlands in the area. They dug canals 16-30 ft. apart some of which were 650 ft. long and piled the dirt in between to be used as plant beds. The canals held fish and aquatic plants used for food and fertilizer. The water also served to create warmer temperatures protecting the crops against frost. This method is actually beginning to be used again today by the Aymara, after some Anthropologists experimented with it and it proved to be quite successful (Richardson 127).

The Tiwanaku dominated the southern valley, and between A.D.400-500 they controlled the western and northern side of Lake Titicaca. They brought their staff god and architecture to the new areas. There is evidence of a drought around this time, providing reason for their branching out and trading extensively. Llamas carried produce and trading goods back and forth between cities. Their entire economic network covered the majority of the Southern Andes by 700 A.D. (Richardson 130).

References

Richardson, James B. People of the Andes-Smithsonian Exploring the Ancient World, St. Remy Press, Montreal 1994, pg.122-131.

Latin America Home                        Southern Site Index