Gate of the Puma
Puma Punku, Bolivia
Puma Punku is one of the most intriguing ancient archaeological sites on earth as the complexity and precision of the stonework found here is unmatched.
Although the largest of the stone blocks found at Puma Punku is twenty-five and a half feet long by seventeen feet wide and weighs an astounding 144 tons, the size of the ruins is not what makes the site so extraordinary, it’s the detail.
Each of the stones that form Puma Punku was pre-fabricated so that it could perfectly interlock with the stones around it forming a kind of puzzle at times incorporating I-shaped cramps for stability. The site’s ornamental stones are adorned with many types of decorative motifs utilizing the same degree of detail notably the H-blocks and their precise 90° interior angles. According to researchers, these angles and designs would have been impossible utilizing the tools and techniques known to Tiwanaku artisans at the time. The site also holds a complex irrigation system, hydraulic mechanisms, and waterproof sewer lines utilizing holes drilled ever so perfectly into the stone.
It is worth noting that no single tool used in the construction of Puma Pnku has ever been uncovered in the excavation process, nor has any sign of tool marks.
Visit
There are many tours that leave from La Paz, Bolivia, most will pick you up from your hotel. The average price is $150 US for two people with additional discounts for more. Although Puma Punku and Tiwanaku are usually within a 2 drive from La Paz, poor road conditions and the possibility of road closures due to protests can make the trip longer. Remember to bring your sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses.
Puma Punku, Avenida Wiñay Marka, Tiawanacu, Tiahuanacu, Ingavi, La Paz, Bolivia
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