The Sunken temple is located on the east side of the major ceremonial platform Kalasasaya. The court is sunken into the earth, with the walls decorated by anthropomorphic faces. Located on the court floor were a number of stelae.

The significance of the Sunken Temple is unknown, however the stelae and faces are good examples of Tiwanaku iconography. Tiwanaku iconography is found at earlier Pucara sites and is derived from the Chavin culture. The images include pumas and condors, as well as anthropomorphic gods being attended by lesser messengers. This iconography is wide spread across the Andes.

Some archaeologists have suggested that the Sunken temple and its sculpture may have embodied the point of fusion of centralized imperial ideology with multiple regional and ethnic ideological systems. The political influence, suggested by the wide spread iconography, indicates far reaching cultural contact. When Tiwanaku collapsed it created a political vacuum that was not adequately filled until the Inca conquest much later.

previous page back to the Latin American archaeology home page next page back to the Museum home page

What Is This background???