Pumapunku complex

E847561

The Pumapunku complex is a monumental pre-Columbian stone structure renowned for its precisely cut megalithic blocks and sophisticated engineering within the ancient city of Tiwanaku in Bolivia.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Pumapunku 1

Statements (58)

Predicate Object
instanceOf archaeological site
megalithic complex
pre-Columbian monumental structure
approximateConstructionEndCentury 10th century
approximateConstructionStartCentury 6th century
approximateLargestBlockWeight over 100 tonnes
up to about 130 tonnes
associatedReligion Tiwanaku religious traditions
associatedWith Tiwanaku urban and ceremonial center NERFINISHED
builtBy Tiwanaku people NERFINISHED
civilization Tiwanaku civilization NERFINISHED
constructionPeriod Middle Horizon NERFINISHED
country Bolivia
culture Tiwanaku culture NERFINISHED
currentUse archaeological research site
tourist attraction
damageCause colonial and modern reuse of blocks
stone robbing for later construction
distanceFromLaPaz approximately 70 kilometers west
elevationAboveSeaLevel approximately 3850 meters
excavatedBy Arthur Posnansky NERFINISHED
Carlos Ponce Sanginés NERFINISHED
various Bolivian and international archaeological teams
feature U-shaped layout elements
dovetail-like stone clamps
dressed stone walls
megalithic gateways
precision-cut joints
stepped platforms
stone-paved courts
terraces
functionHypothesis ceremonial complex
elite or state-sponsored architectural complex
ritual gateway area
heritageStatus part of UNESCO World Heritage Site Tiwanaku: Spiritual and Political Centre of the Tiwanaku Culture NERFINISHED
locatedIn Altiplano NERFINISHED
Andes
Bolivia NERFINISHED
La Paz Department NERFINISHED
Tiwanaku archaeological site NERFINISHED
materialUsed andesite
coarse sandstone
red sandstone
nameLanguage Aymara NERFINISHED
nameMeaning Door of the Puma
near Lake Titicaca NERFINISHED
notableFor H-shaped stone blocks
complex joinery of megalithic blocks
finely carved andesite blocks
large sandstone platforms
precisely cut stone blocks
sophisticated stone masonry
partOf Tiwanaku NERFINISHED
stoneSourceRegion Copoata peninsula region
quarries near Lake Titicaca
UNESCOCriteria (iii)
(iv)
UNESCOWorldHeritageSiteSince 2000

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Middle Horizon Andes hasMajorCenter Pumapunku complex
this entity surface form: Pumapunku
Tiwanaku archaeological site hasPart Pumapunku complex