The City of Tiwanaku
by Ofelia Garcia
Introduction
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Located in a large area of the southern Andes in present-day Bolivia, near Lake Titicaca, are the ruins of the ancient city of Tiwanaku. Initially, archeologists believed the site to be primarily used as a ceremonial space. However, further evidence suggests that Tiwanaku grew from a small settlement to a thriving city.
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It is due to this fact that the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) deemed it one of its esteemed World Heritage Sites in 2000. The unique culture and vast remains of this ancient pre-Columbian civilization make it an extremely valuable site to preserve and protect. At the city’s peak, sometime between 500 and 900 CE, between 30,000 and 70,000 people lived in the city. It is now believed that the people of Tiwanaku had a significant influence on the Inca population, who thrived from the period 1438–1533 CE.
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At one time, Tiwanaku was a major political and spiritual center for thousands of Tiwanaku people living in the region. Artifacts such as pottery, textiles, and metals have been found at the site. Sophisticated tools and other artifacts of measurement are displayed in the architecture of the city’s ceremonial buildings and other structures.
Architecture
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Visitors to the ruins today are greeted by some amazing stone structures. One of these is known as Kalasasaya. It is an enormous stone enclosure. On one side of the enclosure stands a “Gateway to the Sun,” featuring a carved “Doorway God.” Other intricate figures are also carved into the walls. It has been suggested that these figures represent angels or other winged messengers. There are also a number of statues throughout the site, each carved similarly to the statues in the enclosure.
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The central focus of the ruins, however, is the Akapana Pyramid. The original structure consisted of a human-made hill surrounded by seven levels. Steps on the east and west sides of the hill led to a flat area at the top that may have been used for sacred ceremonies and rituals.
Agriculture
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This region in Bolivia typically has a monsoon season. The monsoon season is one of heavy daily rain. As a result, the land can become regularly flooded during this time of year.
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Growing food under these conditions led to one of the most notable features of the Tiwanaku people: evidence of a complex agricultural system known as a raised field system. Farmers built long plots of elevated earth to create a “raised” bed for planting crops. In between these raised beds were tunnels or canals. Options for adequate drainage and gathering nutrients from the soil, such as aquatic plants and algae, were built into this carefully designed system.
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This system of farming kept the crops from being flooded every year. Its design also aided in holding heat during cold weather so the crops would not freeze. The raised-field system of raising crops provided ample food (especially potatoes), and its surplus bolstered the economy for the city’s inhabitants.
Collapse of Tiwanaku
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Recent studies suggest that a period of sustained drought from 915 to 1025 CE contributed to the collapse of the Tiwanaku Empire. This regional climate change led to the depletion of their extra food storage. Then, between 1000 and 1100 CE, it is thought that the political system collapsed, and the empire was under attack by neighboring states. This, in combination with the drought, caused the fields and city to be abandoned.
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The influence of the Tiwanaku people is still being studied. The continuing discoveries surrounding this great empire help people to appreciate the importance of this amazing culture.
Multiple Choice Question
Which sentence belongs in an objective summary of the text?
A.
The city of Tiwanaku is the most interesting ancient city to study.
B.
Some structures in Tiwanaku had carvings of winged messengers.
C.
Visitors love to visit the ruins of Tiwanaku for a glimpse into history.
D.
The city of Tiwanaku held great spiritual significance among the Incas.