The Tiwanaku Culture: A Unique Take on an Empire

The Site of Tiwanaku (Image Source: Live Science)

Several ancient empires, such as the ancient Roman or Greek empires, are well known and admired by the general public.  They are recognized for their cultural and political achievements, typically due to great military conquests.  These representations tend to dominate the notions of empire, but there is at least one unique empire that did not rely on military conquest to spread its cultural and political might.  This empire is not widely known to the general public but is of great importance to archaeological scholars, particularly Andeanists.  Today’s blog post is dedicated to the discussion of Tiwanaku, an empire, site, and culture that is considered by some to be one of the greatest Andean empires.

Figure 1: Map of Tiwanaku (IMage Source: Archaeology's Interactive Dig)

The Tiwanaku culture is represented by the ancient city of Tiwanaku, which is located in the southern Lake Titicaca Basin in the modern day country of Bolivia (Figure 1), and it existed in its prime from 400 A.D. to 900 A.D.   The city used to be considered a spiritual center that was patronized by religious pilgrims from across the Andes, but today we know that the city was both a religious and urban center that at its height housed anywhere from 30,000 to 70,000 people.  Much of the residential area is under modern agricultural fields and therefore inaccessible, but the spiritual center is a protected archaeological site that has been thoroughly investigated by several well known archaeologists.  This area is composed of several structures, although the most notable are the Akapana and Kalasasaya (Figure 2).  Both are temple structures that dominate the area and house architectural features and bas-relief sculptures that epitomize the gods, specifically the Sun and Staff gods, worshiped at the site.

Figure 2: Tiwanaku Temples (Image Source: Tiwy)

In the last decade archaeologists have begun to excavate in the residential areas surrounding the spiritual center of the city, and they have determined that the site was home to a diverse array of Andean groups.  Not only was it a rather cosmopolitan city with its diverse ethnic inhabitants but it was a booming agricultural center, as well.  Potatoes and quinoa were cultivated in the harsh mountainous environment, which were maintained through a series of sophisticated irrigation systems and structures.  Camelids, such as llamas and alpacas, were raised for meat and wool, as well as used in rituals as sacrifices in the spiritual and residential areas of the city.

The Tiwanaku culture is characterized by specific iconography, principally the Staff God, as well as diagnostic pottery, such as the drinking vessel known as a kero (Figure 3).  Tiwanaku iconography and wares have been found throughout the Andes, from the north coast of Peru to northern Chile.  Several of these pieces appear to have been imported to these regions directly from the source, but much of the iconography and pottery styles have been incorporated into the local styles, which is demonstrated through syncretic mixes of iconography and locally made goods made in the Tiwanaku style.  What is unique about this phenomenon is that it does not appear that the Tiwanaku style was spread through conquest but instead through spiritual influence, making the Tiwanaku empire a unique one since it appears that no blood was shed in the process.  

 

Figure 3: Newly Excavated Tiwankau Style Kero at an Site in Arica,Chile (Image Source: Author's Image)

It is unclear what specifically led to the decline of the Tiwanaku empire.  It is believed, however, that the decline may have been due to environmental factors that gradually eroded away at the resources required to maintain Tiwanaku’s dominance.  Archaeological evidence does seem to suggest that the decline of Tiwanaku left it vulnerable, and it was raided and attacked by various outsider groups as a result.  The city was eventually abandoned, but its spiritual influence remained for many years after, particularly among the Inca who claimed their ancestors were from the sacred city.  Today, the site of Tiwanaku continues to fascinate people and it is currently considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.       

References

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/567

http://www.ancient.eu/Tiwanaku/

http://www.livescience.com/26792-tiwanaku.html