We set out by bus for our next stop at Puno, Peru, on Lake Titicaca. On the way, we visited Tiwanaku.
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Clive > Tiwanaku is a ceremonial site used by a precursor of the the Inca empire. It dates back to 600BC. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiwanaku for a full description. The site is at 12,700 ft (3870 meters) above sea level. The railway station is no longer in use.
Clive > The site is being reconstructed after looting and destruction by subsequent "civilizations" from the Incas through the Spanish and recent amateur archeologists. One could question the use of the term "civilized" for some of the colonialists! It is belived that a major drought caused the initial downfall of the Tiwanaku culture.
Clive > The seven level pyramid is being excavated. Human sacrificial remains have been found, thought to date from the last desperate days of the culture as the drought destroyed them
Clive > The holes indicate how the cut stones blocks should be fitted together
Clive > Stone cutting was remarkably accurate. No mortar was used, and the joints are razor thin.
Clive > The structures are aligned to locate astronomical events.
Clive > The site's museum is under construction. We were asked not to photograph this...
Clive > ... by this guard.
Clive > The remaining artifacts survived the looting because they were buried under the sand.
The remaining artifacts survived the looting because they were buried under the sand.
> The remaining artifacts survived the looting because they were buried under the sand.
The remaining artifacts survived the looting because they were buried under the sand.
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