Capriles Team Uncovers 215-Km-Distant Tiwanaku Temple in Bolivia
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · Jul 5
Capriles Team Uncovers 215-Km-Distant Tiwanaku Temple in Bolivia
1 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · Jul 5
Summary
Palaspata, a massive Tiwanaku temple identified by Jose Capriles' team, was found on a Bolivian hilltop about 215 km southeast of the civilization's main archaeological center.
The team believes the site was strategically placed at the junction of three major trade routes, linking the Tiwanaku polity to key ecosystem resources and helping explain its regional reach.
The find adds to evidence that the Tiwanaku—an Andean society active roughly between 500 and 1100 CE and estimated at 10,000 to 20,000 people at its peak—was more complex than once thought.
Earlier work by some of the same researchers at Lake Titicaca uncovered 8th- to 10th-century submerged offerings, including gold ornaments, puma-shaped incense burners and four young llamas, pointing to elaborate Tiwanaku ritual life.
Why did an ancient Andean society sink priceless gold and sacrifices into the cold depths of Lake Titicaca?
What other secrets of the Tiwanaku empire still lie submerged and hidden in South America's most sacred lake?
Did the worship of a great creator god truly begin with these mysterious rituals beneath the Island of the Sun?
The 2025 Discovery of Palaspata: Expanding the Map of Tiwanaku Civilization and State Power
Overview
The recent discovery of the Palaspata temple, formally announced in June 2025, has greatly impacted the archaeological community by revealing new insights into the ancient Tiwanaku state. Led by José Capriles from Penn State University, an international team used advanced technology to uncover this significant site, which had remained largely unknown despite its location near a major Bolivian highway. The collaborative effort brought together diverse expertise, highlighting the temple’s historical importance and its role in expanding our understanding of Tiwanaku’s reach and influence in the Andes.