Experimental Archaeology Project at Tiwanaku

Experimental archaeology is used to determine how something was done or made. Experiments are designed to determine the archaeological correlates of ancient behavior. Prehistoric techniques died with their practitioners, so archaeologists rediscover them.

In Tiwanaku, Paul Harmon was puzzled about the Tiwanaku pyramids. How were they made if there was a lack of nearby quarries? The red sandstone quarries were 10 kilometers away; an incredible distance considering that one of the stones alone weighted over 130 tons. Most elaborate carvings and monoliths were made of green andesite stone, and the only source of this stone is on the Copacabana peninsula, across Lake Titicaca.

Verzonken Temple, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
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Kalasasaya Temple, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
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Harmon believed that these giant andesite stones were transported some 90 kilometers across Lake Titicaca on reed boats, then dragged another 10 kilometers to the city. Using only traditional techniques and locally available materials, Harmon and his team tested his theory by recreating the Tiwanaku building process with a group of leading Aymara experts in totora reed boat building.

Reed boat manufacturing in the region includes gathering and joining bundles of totora reeds and fastening them with rope from dried out prairie grass called ichu. Then the reed bundles are connected to more ichu to make the spine of the boat. Finally rows of bundles are pounded into a crescent shape. The ancient design made a raft that filters water from waves. If made properly the transportation of the stone will be a success across the lake.

Once the stone reached the other side of the lake, the stone was then dragged to Tiwanaku. At arrival to the site local masons carved the stone into a reproduction of one of the statues of the site, the Ponce monolith. The original was taken to the newly constructed museum to be protected from erosion and the replica will be put in its place with the fanfare and celebrations of the indigenous communities.

Read more about the project!

About the Author

I'm Jose Pierre and I like learning about all aspects of culture, both ancient and modern. I enjoy learning how they communicated, expressed themselves, and their technology.