The Enigma of Tiwanaku and Puma Punku

Book excerpt: Of the megalithic ruins of the world, one that still stupefies visitors to South America, researchers and laymen alike, is the complex of Tiwanaku, also called Tiahuanaco in Bolivia. The most mysterious part of this archaeological site for many is Puma Punku, a cluster of shattered hard stone building block components that lie undisturbed in the high altitude grasslands near Lake Titicaca. The strangest thing about Puma Punku is that the stone cutting technology found there is not present at other locations in Bolivia, Peru, or in fact the world! This book looks at solving the riddles of who made Tiwanaku and Puma Punku, when, and how.