Lost temple found in mountains reveals secrets of civilization that vanished 1,000 years ago
A vast stone temple built 1,000 years ago by one of South America's most powerful civilizations has been uncovered in the Andes.
Archaeologists discovered the temple, known as Palaspata, atop a ridge in the remote highlands southeast of Lake Titicaca, near the small community of Ocotavi in western Bolivia.
The large structure was the craftsmanship of the Tiwanaku civilization, which left a mark on the world with impressive stone structures, advanced irrigation systems, and unique art and pottery before vanishing around 1000AD.
Covering an area roughly the size of a city block, the site measures approximately 410 feet long by 476 feet wide.
It features 15 rectangular enclosures arranged around a central courtyard, which appears to align with the solar equinox, a time when the sun rises directly over the equator and is often marked by key ritual dates in ancient cultures.
The team believes more than 20,000 people may have lived here, as some buildings were constructed with stones weighing over 100 tons, showing highly organized labor and planning.
'This was not just a temple, it was a strategic hub, an entry point between the highlands and lowland trade routes,' said Dr José Capriles, lead archaeologist from Pennsylvania State University and co-author of the study.
'This was a place where people, goods, and gods all crossed paths.'.
The newly discovered complex is located about 130 miles south of Tiwanaku's established historical site, on top of a hill known to local Indigenous farmers but was never explored in depth by researchers due to its unassuming location.
Carbon dating revealed the site was most active between AD 630 and 950, during the period when the Tiwanaku civilization expanded its influence into the eastern valleys.
'Their society collapsed sometime around 1000 CE and was a ruin by the time the Incas conquered the Andes in the 15th century,' Dr Capriles said.
'It boasted a highly organized societal structure, leaving behind remnants of architectural monuments like pyramids, terraced temples and monoliths, most of which are distributed in sites around Lake Titicaca.'
The ancient temple once featured tall, red sandstone and white quartzite stones that marked its perimeter.
Though much of the original structure has collapsed, its rectangular design and astronomical alignment are still visible as its pieces still litter the ground.
The central courtyard may have once held a sunken ceremonial plaza, a hallmark of Tiwanaku temples.
The temple's surface was scattered with fragments of keru cups, used for drinking chicha, a traditional maize beer, during agricultural feasts and celebrations, indicating its role as a key trade hub, according to Capriles.
Since maize was not grown locally but in the Cochabamba valleys, unlike the high-altitude temple site, this highlights the temple's significance in enabling access to diverse goods, including food, and linking different culinary traditions, he added.
'The archaeological findings at Palaspata are significant because they highlight a crucial aspect of our local heritage that had been completely overlooked,' said Justo Ventura Guarayo, mayor of the municipality of Caracollo, where the site is located.
'This discovery is vital for our community.'
Views of the Palaspata temple: A) an aerial mosaic created from recent drone images, and B) a filtered image showing color differences, overlaid with a grid to outline the temple's structure.
The Palaspata complex had remained undetected by archaeologists until recently, when they spotted unusual geometric shapes in satellite photos.
Researchers then used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, and 3D imaging techniques to confirm the presence of a man-made structure.
'Because the features are very faint, we blended various satellite images,' said Dr Capriles.
Nearby, at a smaller archaeological site called Ocotavi 1, researchers uncovered homes, tools, animal bones and human burials with skull shaping a sign of high status in Andean culture.
Nearby, at a smaller archaeological site called Ocotavi 1, researchers uncovered homes, tools, animal bones and human burials with skull shaping, a sign of high status in Andean culture.
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A vast stone temple built 1,000 years ago by one of South America's most powerful civilizations has been uncovered in the Andes. Archaeologists discovered the temple , known as Palaspata, atop a ridge in the remote highlands southeast of Lake Titicaca, near the small community of Ocotavi in western Bolivia. The large structure was the craftsmanship of the Tiwanaku civilization, which left a mark on the world with impressive stone structures, advanced irrigation systems, and unique art and pottery before vanishing around 1000AD. Covering an area roughly the size of a city block, the site measures approximately 410 feet long by 476 feet wide. It features 15 rectangular enclosures arranged around a central courtyard, which appears to align with the solar equinox, a time when the sun rises directly over the equator and is often marked by key ritual dates in ancient cultures. The team believes more than 20,000 people may have lived here, as some buildings were constructed with stones weighing over 100 tons, showing highly organized labor and planning. 'This was not just a temple, it was a strategic hub, an entry point between the highlands and lowland trade routes,' said Dr José Capriles, lead archaeologist from Pennsylvania State University and co-author of the study. 'This was a place where people, goods, and gods all crossed paths.'. The newly discovered complex is located about 130 miles south of Tiwanaku's established historical site, on top of a hill known to local Indigenous farmers but was never explored in depth by researchers due to its unassuming location. Carbon dating revealed the site was most active between AD 630 and 950, during the period when the Tiwanaku civilization expanded its influence into the eastern valleys. 'Their society collapsed sometime around 1000 CE and was a ruin by the time the Incas conquered the Andes in the 15th century,' Dr Capriles said. 'It boasted a highly organized societal structure, leaving behind remnants of architectural monuments like pyramids, terraced temples and monoliths, most of which are distributed in sites around Lake Titicaca.' The ancient temple once featured tall, red sandstone and white quartzite stones that marked its perimeter. Though much of the original structure has collapsed, its rectangular design and astronomical alignment are still visible as its pieces still litter the ground. The central courtyard may have once held a sunken ceremonial plaza, a hallmark of Tiwanaku temples. The temple's surface was scattered with fragments of keru cups, used for drinking chicha, a traditional maize beer, during agricultural feasts and celebrations, indicating its role as a key trade hub, according to Capriles. Since maize was not grown locally but in the Cochabamba valleys, unlike the high-altitude temple site, this highlights the temple's significance in enabling access to diverse goods, including food, and linking different culinary traditions, he added. 'The archaeological findings at Palaspata are significant because they highlight a crucial aspect of our local heritage that had been completely overlooked,' said Justo Ventura Guarayo, mayor of the municipality of Caracollo, where the site is located. 'This discovery is vital for our community.' The Palaspata complex had remained undetected by archaeologists until recently, when they spotted unusual geometric shapes in satellite photos. Researchers then used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, and 3D imaging techniques to confirm the presence of a man-made structure. 'Because the features are very faint, we blended various satellite images,' said Dr Capriles. Nearby, at a smaller archaeological site called Ocotavi 1, researchers uncovered homes, tools, animal bones and human burials with skull shaping a sign of high status in Andean culture. Nearby, at a smaller archaeological site called Ocotavi 1, researchers uncovered homes, tools, animal bones and human burials with skull shaping, a sign of high status in Andean culture.
