The Largest Pyramid In The World - and its in Bolivia!!!

OK, i'll slide away from that explosive title, but only slightly.

It’s 'potentially' the largest pyramid in 'South America', so not quite the world. BUT it is here in Bolivia and i'm sure its in the world top 10 at least. The problem is (as explained below), its not quite unearthed yet....

(THIS ARTICLE WAS FIRST WRITTEN BY ME FOR 'THE LLAMA EXPRESS' MAGAZINE IN LATE 2004)

'The Akapana Pyramid in Tiahuanaco could be the most important discovery in Bolivian history, and the prospect for mass tourism in the area is enormous.

Tiahuanaco has been a major tourist site in Bolivia for many years. Situated 71 km west of La Paz it is thought that the Akapana Pyramid was built around 300 AD by the Tiahuanacan people as a ceremonial centre.

It has been known for some time that a pyramid existed below what appeared to be an oddly shaped hill, but there to date has been little attempt to excavate it. At the moment all that can be seen of the pyramid are the small pockets of excavations that have so far been carried out. The measurements were gained using ground penetrating radar equipment.

This truncated pyramid (a pyramid with its cone removed parallel to its base) is 194 metres long, 184 metres wide and just 18 metres tall. It has seven different levels and no peak, quite different from the typical Egyptian model which is much taller, with four sides and a peak.

In 1934 archaeologist Wendell C. Bennett was credited with first ‘discovering’ the main Tiahuanaco site. Even though by the time he began excavations Tiahuanaco had already suffered from many centuries of plunder, he still managed to uncover fresh Tiahuanacan ruins at Pampa Koani.

Until 1986 the Tiahuanacan empire was thought simply to be a collection of small states, and not the advanced civilisation that it is now known to be. An excavation by American anthropologist Alan Kolata discovered that the Tiahuanaco lands once held up to 125 000 people who were supported by a highly advanced and complex agricultural system.

Tiahuanaco had risen from a collection of small independent agricultural states to having a self-supporting fully formed regional government and army.

The main obstacle hindering the uncovering of the pyramid is money. In the past 50 years the constant changes that have occurred in Bolivia has meant that there has simply not been the money available to carry out an excavation.

A consortium of SOBOCE (the largest cement producer in Bolivia), CAF (The Andean Development Corporation) and the municipality of Tiahuanaco have joined together with the Bolivian government to finally solve this problem. They are funding a comprehensive excavation of the area with the main intention of making it a major tourist attraction.

The consortium has so far raised just under U$ 1.5 million for the project which is expected to last five years. SOBOCE, CAF and the municipality of Tiahuanaco have promised U$ 160 000 per year, followed up by U$ 70 000 from the government. It is thought that at least a further U$ 3 million is needed to finish the excavations.

The project was started in August with Bolivian President Carlos Mesa joining in an ancient Andean blessing of the pyramid. The fact that the President of Bolivia is making an effort to help gives some indication of its importance to Bolivia.

The President of SOBOCE, Samuel Doria Medina, said of the find, “It’s going to be an important change for tourism in the whole continent, the whole world. I think that tourism in this country has an interesting future.”

After enjoying relative prosperity between 300 AD and 700 AD, the pyramid suffered from severe lack of maintenance from 700 AD until the end of the Tiahuanacan era in 1200 AD

It is thought that the Akapana Pyramid was used as a sacred site for large ceremonies with many offerings to the gods of the Tiahuanacan people. Many animal bones, especially llama, have been found so far during the excavation along with ceramic, clay artefacts and even dismembered human remains.

Even though the excavation is in the early stages there have already been a number of discoveries, including tombs. Pablo Rendon, head archaeologist on the east wing of the pyramid said, “When you find a tomb it takes more time to excavate as everything has to be documented photographed, categorised etc. The process is very tedious.”

“So far we have found ceramics which, when put together, make whole artefacts,” he added.

The pyramid was allegedly covered in sand and hidden from the world by later civilisations who did not want the site to be seen as a symbol of defiance. The pyramid was such a colossal structure that in the absence of dynamite or explosives the only way of destroying it was to cover it with soil.

When the Incas came across the then ruins of Tiahuanaco they claimed that it was the place where their creator Viracocha first made the people of the Andes out of clay. They also claimed that it was here that the first Inca was created and it was from Tiahuanaco that he was sent to Cuzco to form the Inca Empire.

In 1540 AD the Spanish found Tiahuanaco. In their search for gold they destroyed the back of the pyramid, but then mysteriously tried to repair the damage they caused. They did, however, make matters worse by repairing the rear wall of the Pyramid by using stones from the top, which were all of a different shape and material.

The Tiahuanaco ruins themselves are still full of mystery. Being 13 000 ft above sea level it is often wondered how a civilisation could flourish at such high altitude and in harsh conditions. There have been many, often wild views on Tiahuanaco’s past. An Austrian astronomer H.S. Bellamy thought that Tiahuanaco was the outcome of one of Earth’s former moons crashing into the ground, and, Erich Von Daniken suggested that Tiahuanaco was the base for an alien race on Earth who used their advanced technologies to erect the pyramid.

Seven different types of building materials were used in the construction of the pyramid. Analyses of some of the red sandstone found at the site showed the nearest quarry to be over ten kilometres away from the pyramid site. This would have taken a colossal effort considering that some of the stones weighed over 130 tonnes.

Other material found at the site is thought to have come from even further away, over 90 km across Lake Titicaca from the Copacabana peninsula. The Andesite stones, which each weighed up to 36 metric tons, were most likely brought across the lake on reed boats, of the type that are still made and used on the lake today.

In 1957 Bolivian archaeologist Ponce Sangines attempted the first Bolivian study of the ruins at Tiahuanaco. He hoped to make the Tiahuanacan empire to Bolivia what the Incas were to Peru and rekindle the country’s somewhat shaken national pride after defeat in the war with Paraguay.

Bolivians today are very proud of Tiahuanaco and its history. Raul Meser, a student from La Paz, is thrilled by the prospect of the pyramid being a huge success with tourists, “My country has so much in it and I believe that people will get a much better experience by coming to Bolivia than they would if they went elsewhere like Chile or Peru. We can offer so much with the mountains, rainforest, and the people are fantastic.”

He continued, “I also think that the fact we (had) one of the most advanced ancient cultures in the world here in Bolivia is so good for our country. I think that not only foreign tourists should go there, but also Bolivian people should go and learn about their past, their heritage. I think the best thing that can happen is if we can publicise this find as much as we can.”

Although there has not been widespread media coverage of the Pyramid, CNN gave five minutes to the project which gave it some international exposure. The site is also due to be presented at the London Trade Fair in November.

Another idea to publicise the existence of the pyramid is to invite journalists from around the world to come to Bolivia and witness the pyramid for themselves.

The excavation is hoped to bring much needed tourism money to a part of Bolivia where 96% of the inhabitants are thought to be living under the poverty line.

The Tiahuanaco site already attracts 120 000 tourists per year which comprises nearly half the 350 000 tourists that visit sites around Bolivia each year. A total of around $US 1.5 million is hoped to be injected into the site of Tiahuanaco, aside from the money to develop the pyramid, to promote the site, crafts, textiles and to make the area more attractive to visitors.

The five-year plan to totally open up the pyramid is currently in operation, but many problems are being faced because of the poor state of some of the structure. Many years of damage caused by looting have taken their toll on the once commanding pyramid.

Plans are already underway for young people from Tiahuanaco to be educated in making skilfully crafted models out of silver. Beginning in 2005, 50 underprivileged students from Tiahuanaco and El Alto will be given sponsorships by SOBOCE to study tourism at university.

Samuel Doria Medina believes that education is the way forward for Bolivia. He said, “We have to help the community to solve the main problems, and the main problem in this country is unemployment. I think that tourism is one of the important things that can help…”

At a recent Bolivian crafts fair in Santa Cruz a group of Artisans selling models of the pyramid won a prize for their efforts. They also managed to sell in ten days more than they usually sell in four months.

The locals of Tiahuanaco are very much in the plans for the development of the complex and plans are already underway to clean up the site and make it more tourist friendly.

Samuel Doria Medina is also currently trying to find a good working model for waste control at the site. He said, “All small cities have problems (with waste disposal)…The local government does not have enough money so the rubbish is all over the place. This is not good for tourism.”

Research is currently being carried out in order to find a system that would work in Tiahuanaco to make it more tourist friendly. It is not only the rubbish that needs to be cleaned up, local housing and businesses need an injection of cash to improve ailing structures.

Well known Bolivian artist Gaston Ugalde has been contracted to help design the new entrances to the Tiahuanaco sites. He hopes to use previous designs and methods to make authentic, but at the same time modern, representations of Tiahuanacan architecture.

Many of the surrounding buildings have been built using stones looted from the pyramid. Some homes in the area even contain important stones or artefacts which date back thousands of years. Sr Doria suggests that stones should be returned to the site, rather than taken out. He said, “We have been taking stones (away from the site) for 2000 years, it is time to put some back.”

An Andean Cross has also been discovered on top of the pyramid which was previously thought to be some kind of drainage system. It is now considered that is was used for elementary stargazing.

Sr Rendon said, “We think that it was used for astronomy. We think that it might have been filled with water so that they could get a better look at the stars.”

One of the main problems that the archaeologists have encountered has been with the 3 000 cubic metres of earth that they are expecting to clear during the excavation. Sr Rendon continued, “The main problem is that there is a lot of movement of sand and earth which could easily come down on top of us whilst we are working. The sand is not compacted and very unstable.”

Within two years it is hoped that one whole side of the Pyramid will be totally uncovered, and within five years the whole pyramid exposed. At the moment only 3% of the whole Tiahuanaco site is visible, it will take many years for the other 97% to be available for Bolivians and tourists alike to see.

Sr Medina believes that tourism has a massive part to play in the future of Bolivia. He said, “I think the idea that Bolivia has the second biggest Pyramid in the world is emblematic of tourism for this country.”

If the Tiahuanaco pyramid is as big a discovery for Bolivia as many people are saying, then the future looks bright indeed, thanks to thousands of years of history. It seems the answer to many people’s prayers may have been buried in their back yard all along.'


AND there we have it. And you know what - they've still - nearly three years on from when i wrote that article done bugger all about this amazing find! shame.