Bennett Monolith, Stone sculpture at Regional Archaeological Museum of Tiwanaku, Bolivia
The Bennett Monolith is a stone sculpture at the Regional Archaeological Museum of Tiwanaku in Bolivia, carved from a single block of sandstone. The monument stands around 24 feet (7.3 m) tall, about 4 feet (1.2 m) wide, and weighs roughly 20 tons.
American archaeologist Wendell Bennett found this stone figure in June 1932 in an underground temple at the ruins of Tiwanaku. It stood in La Paz for several decades before being brought back to Tiwanaku in 2002.
The stone figure shows a person holding ceremonial objects in both hands, its surface covered with carefully carved signs. Its headwear and belt at the waist show patterns that appear often in pre-Columbian Andean art.
The monument stands in the Regional Archaeological Museum, where you can examine the stone surface and carved signs up close. Visitors should allow enough time to see the many details on the front and back sides.
This sculpture is the largest stone figure ever found at Tiwanaku and shows a person who may have held a leadership role. Its weight and size make the transport from the underground temple a notable achievement.
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